Mature vWF, smooth muscle actin, and vWF precursor protein expression in human small vessel disease.

<p>The same CADASIL cortical brain artery was examined by immunohistochemistry for mature vWF (A), smooth muscle actin (B), and vWF-pp (C). This vessel demonstrated transmural staining for mature vWF, subendothelial reactivity for SMA, and intimal-specific vWF-pp immunoreactivity. As in other SVD tissues, the staining for vWF-pp was not observed beyond the endothelium, but many segments of arteries were devoid of vWF-pp, suggesting inhomogeneity of endothelial coverage. (D) Confirmatory double stains were performed in to localize vWF-pp (dark blue stain on in inside of the artery) mature vWF (brown stain that extends into the arterial wall). Mature vWF is found in regions that lack vWF-pp staining. Photographs were taken at 1000×.