title: The association of platelet-derived growth factor receptor expression, plaque morphology and histological features with symptoms in carotid atherosclerosis.
abstract: Platelet-derived growth factor may influence smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation and, therefore, carotid plaque composition and stenosis. Platelet-derived growth factor receptor expression and histological features were compared in carotid plaques from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Immunocytochemistry and histology determined platelet-derived growth factor-alpha and -beta receptor expression, white blood cell infiltration, smooth muscle cell, elastin, cholesterol, collagen and intraplaque haemorrhage in carotid artery plaques removed at surgery or the post-mortem. Plaques with > 70% stenosis from asymptomatic (n = 10) and symptomatic patients (n = 27) had higher expression of platelet-derived growth factor and beta receptors and higher scores for macrophages and intraplaque haemorrhage than plaques with < 70% stenosis from asymptomatic patients (n = 33). Plaques with > 70% stenosis from symptomatic patients had significantly lower alpha receptor expression than plaques with > 70% stenosis from asymptomatic patients. The reduction of alpha receptor expression, which may inhibit smooth muscle cell migration, suggests that differential expression of platelet-derived growth factor receptor subunits in plaques may be related to symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Bristol Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Irvine
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sheffield
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Lamont
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002455:Cell Division; D018450:Disease Progression; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor