G. Pasterkamp et al., Atherosclerotic arterial remodeling and the localization of macrophages and matrix metalloproteases 1, 2 and 9 in the human coronary artery, ATHEROSCLER, 150(2), 2000, pp. 245-253
Citations number
33
Categorie Soggetti
Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems","Cardiovascular & Hematology Research
Atherosclerotic luminal narrowing is determined by plaque mass and the mode
of geometrical remodeling. Recently, we reported that the type of atherosc
lerotic remodeling is associated with the presence of histological markers
for plaque vulnerability. Inflammation and matrix degrading proteases (MMPs
) may play a role in both plaque vulnerability and in expansive arterial re
modeling. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association b
etween the remodeling mode and the localization of macrophages and MMPs in
coronary atherosclerotic segments. From 36 atherosclerotic coronary arterie
s, 45 and 51 segments were selected with a vessel area that was > 10% small
er and larger compared with the adjacent segments, respectively. No signifi
cant difference in staining for macrophages was observed between segments w
ith expansive and constrictive remodeling. More MMP-2 and MMP-9 staining wa
s observed in plaques of expansively remodeled segments compared with const
rictively remodeled segments. In general, MMP-staining was less evident in
the adventitial layer compared with the plaque. Zymography revealed more ac
tive MMP-2 in expansively remodeled segments compared with constrictively r
emodeled segments (340 +/- 319 vs. 199 +/- 181 (adjusted counts/mm(2)), res
pectively, P = 0.019). Zymography did not show differences in inactive MMP-
2 or MMP-9 among groups. It might be postulated that MMPs within the plaque
play a causal role not only in plaque vulnerability but also in de novo at
herosclerotic remodeling. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights
reserved.