The Expression And Distribution Of Inflammation Factors And Matrix Metalloproteinases In The Human Atherosclerotic Plaque

Background and purposeThere are close relationships between the stability of the atherosclerotic plaque and the cardiovascular events. The mechanisms that cause arterial atherosclerotic plaque to become symptomatic remain unclear. Evidences suggest that inflammation are not only instrumental in the formation of plaque but may also be involved in the rapid progression of atheromatous lesions leading to plaque fissuring and intraluminal thrombosis. And the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are important factors that influence the plaque stability by degradating the extracellular matrix (ECM). The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether inflammation factors and MMPs are preferentially expressed on symptomatic versus asymptomatic arterial plaques, and the relationship between inflammation factors, MMPs and the plaque stability.MethodsSpecimens of human femoral artery atherosclerotic plaques were obtained from 7 patients undergoing artery endarterectomy and amputation surgery. They were divided into unstable plaque groups (with lipid core size>40%) n=15 and stable groups(with no or only little lipid core)n=15: the immunohistochemical staining were performed for ICAM-1,VCAM-1,P-selectin,E-selectin,MCP-1,MMP-2 and MMP-9. The distribution of the positive cells was observed under the optical microscope, and were analysed by Image-pro plus (IPP) auto picture analysis system. The independent samples t test were performed by using of the SPSS 10.0...