title: Localization of fibrinolytic activators and inhibitors in normal and atherosclerotic vessels.
abstract: Local fibrinolytic changes in atherosclerotic arteries have been suggested to influence plaque growth and promote mural thrombosis on ruptured or ulcerated plaques. Increased levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) have been found in atherosclerotic arteries. In this study tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) and PAI-1 were localized in arterial biopsies of healthy and atherosclerotic vessels by immunohistochemistry. The expression of fibrinolytic regulators was related to the distribution of endothelial cells (EC) and macrophages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  t-PA was expressed in vasa vasorum. PAI-1 was positive in endothelial cells, in the media and in the adventitia. Increased expression of t-PA, u-PA and PAI-1 was found in atherosclerotic vessels. t-PA, u-PA, PAI-1 and macrophages were co-localized in plaques. These results support the concept that macrophages can be important in the local regulation of fibrinolysis in atherosclerotic vessels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, CKO, Ostra Hospital, Gothemburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falkenberg
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tjärnström
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ortenwall
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olausson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Risberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000032:analysis*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000032:analysis*; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator