Kevin Pilarczyk1, Katherine J E Sattler1, Offer Galili1, Daniele Versari1, Monica L Olson1, Frederic B Meyer2, Xiang-Yang Zhu3, Lilach O Lerman3, Amir Lerman4. 1. Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic Rochester, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, USA. 2. Department of Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN, USA. 3. Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN, USA. 4. Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic Rochester, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, USA. Electronic address: lerman.amir@mayo.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Placenta growth factor (PlGF) mediates angiogenesis and inflammation, but its role in human atherosclerosis is unknown. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that PlGF-expression in human atherosclerotic carotid plaques is related to inflammation, vascularization and clinical plaque instability. METHODS: The expression of PlGF, C-reactive protein (CRP) and CD40L was analyzed with Western blots in carotid plaques of 60 patients. Cellular infiltration (CD68, CD3) and vascularization (von-Willebrand-factor) was assessed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Symptomatic patients showed higher levels of PlGF than asymptomatic patients (115.4+/-8.2 versus 83.6+/-10.5 densitometric units (DU), p<0.05) and higher grading for inflammatory cells and microvessels (CD3: 2.3+/-0.1 versus 0.6+/-0.1, p<0.001, CD68: 2.4+/-0.1 versus 0.8+/-0.1, p<0.001, microvessels: 2.3+/-0.1 versus 1.5+/-0.1, p<0.01). PlGF-expression showed a positive correlation to the expression of CRP (r=0.5, p<0.001) and CD40L (r=0.4, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: PlGF-expression within human atherosclerotic lesions is associated with plaque inflammation and microvascular density, suggesting a role for PlGF in plaque destabilization and, thus, in clinical manifestation of the disease.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Placenta growth factor (PlGF) mediates angiogenesis and inflammation, but its role in humanatherosclerosis is unknown. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that PlGF-expression in humanatherosclerotic carotid plaques is related to inflammation, vascularization and clinical plaque instability. METHODS: The expression of PlGF, C-reactive protein (CRP) and CD40L was analyzed with Western blots in carotid plaques of 60 patients. Cellular infiltration (CD68, CD3) and vascularization (von-Willebrand-factor) was assessed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Symptomatic patients showed higher levels of PlGF than asymptomatic patients (115.4+/-8.2 versus 83.6+/-10.5 densitometric units (DU), p<0.05) and higher grading for inflammatory cells and microvessels (CD3: 2.3+/-0.1 versus 0.6+/-0.1, p<0.001, CD68: 2.4+/-0.1 versus 0.8+/-0.1, p<0.001, microvessels: 2.3+/-0.1 versus 1.5+/-0.1, p<0.01). PlGF-expression showed a positive correlation to the expression of CRP (r=0.5, p<0.001) and CD40L (r=0.4, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS:PlGF-expression within humanatherosclerotic lesions is associated with plaque inflammation and microvascular density, suggesting a role for PlGF in plaque destabilization and, thus, in clinical manifestation of the disease.
Authors: Iris Z Jaffe; Brenna G Newfell; Mark Aronovitz; Najwa N Mohammad; Adam P McGraw; Roger E Perreault; Peter Carmeliet; Afshin Ehsan; Michael E Mendelsohn Journal: J Clin Invest Date: 2010-11 Impact factor: 14.808
Authors: Mehdi Rambod; Gunnar H Heine; Sarah Seiler; Elizabeth A Dominic; Kyrill S Rogacev; Rama Dwivedi; Ali Ramezani; Maria R Wing; Richard L Amdur; Danilo Fliser; Dominic S Raj Journal: Atherosclerosis Date: 2014-08-12 Impact factor: 5.162
Authors: Judith C Sluimer; Frank D Kolodgie; Ann P J J Bijnens; Kimberly Maxfield; Erica Pacheco; Bob Kutys; Hans Duimel; Peter M Frederik; Victor W M van Hinsbergh; Renu Virmani; Mat J A P Daemen Journal: J Am Coll Cardiol Date: 2009-04-28 Impact factor: 24.094