78 Geochemistry of Health and Environmental Transport

Tuesday, 6 November 2001
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM

PRECIPITATION OF MINERALS IN HUMAN ARTERIAL PLAQUE: THE POTENTIAL ROLE OF NANNOBACTERIA

Paper number: 78-3
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Authors

Abstract

Arterial plaque extracted from one patient in 1997 (analyzed by Kirkland); and more plaque from four Austin Heart patients analyzed by a team at UT Austin using a SEM at 20,000X to 100,000X showed 30 to 100 nm ball-like features similar to those found in hot springs, clays and sulfides. Some arteries are clogged with pieces of rock-hard hydroxyapatite up to 3 mm in diameter, which consist of subspherical balls of 30-100 nm forming solid but microporous masses. In many cases the bodies form streptococcoid-like chains. Less coherent masses of plaque consist of filaments 40-100 nm thick which may be either smooth, or more-or-less covered with balls, or made up of long chains of balls like rosaries. Filaments can range from loose "spider webs" to densely felted mats. Some red cells and leukocytes are enmeshed by balls or filaments. EDAX data suggests a transition from balls of organic matter, through partially mineralized to "fossilized" apatite balls.

Because the nannoballs observed in arterial plaque have the same size, shape and colonial attributes as those found in surficial minerals and weathered rocks, we propose that they are also nannobacteria. Confirming work at the Mayo Clinic shows that nannobacteria take up immunostain specific for nannobacterial cell wall proteins; that stained nannobacteria are frequently found in association with stained hydroxyapatite crystals in human atherosclerotic plaque and that nannobacteria can be cultured from calcified aortic aneurysms. "Hardening of the arteries" has long been observed, but the underlying pathogenesis remains an elusive topic of debate in medical science. Inflammatory processes associated with the accumulation of lipid and infection with bacteria have been proposed to be involved in the development of human atherosclerosis. We propose that nannobacteria may be the infectious agent involved in the mineralization of human atherosclerotic plaque.