Fig. 1

AGE-immunoreactivity (AGE-IR) in human carotid arteries from non-diabetic patients

(A) Left: Section through the pre-atherosclerotic region of an excised carotid artery segment. There is strong AGE-IR in the internal elastic lamina and extracellular matrix layers of the vessel wall, (magnification × 100) Right: Corresponding to 1A left, showing staining with a non-immune IgG-serum. Only autofluorescence is evident in the vessel wall, (magnification × 100) (B) Left: Carotid artery showing a characteristically thickened intima with focal areas of intense AGE-IR. (magnification × 200) Right: Same as on left panel, stained with a nonimmune IgG serum, (magnification × 200) (C) Left: A fatty-streak lesion with proliferating smooth muscle cells, showing intense cytoplasmic AGE-IR. (magnification × 200) Right: IgG-control of corresponding section to left panel with lipid-derived autofluorescence within the smooth muscle cells, (magnification × 200) (D) Left: Section through a completely occluded atherosclerotic plaque showing AGE-IR contained within macrophages at the center of the lesion, (magnification × 200) Right: Corresponding section to left panel, stained with IgG-control serum, (magnification × 200)