Fibrinogen and smooth muscle cell detection in atherosclerotic plaques from stable and unstable angina -- an immunohistochemical study.
BACKGROUND
This study presents a systematic analysis of atherothrombotic lesions taken by percutaneous atherectomy and post mortem examination from coronary arteries, in order to identify: a) the topographic occurrence of fibrinogen and smooth muscle cells (SMCs), b) their independent expression in stable and unstable plaques, and c) their co-expression, which can provide a better understanding of the involvement of fibrinogen and SMCs in the development and progression of atherosclerotic plaques.


METHODS
120 specimens from atherosclerotic lesions were collected, using directional coronary atherectomy; 40 additional specimens were collected from postmortem examinations. All specimens were stained by immunohistochemical methods with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies (DAKO) for fibrinogen and SMCs.


RESULTS
Fibrinogen appeared to be a component of all stable and unstable coronary atherosclerotic plaques, with a significant predominance in unstable angina. No significant difference was observed between SMC-stained areas in stable and unstable angina; however, a significant difference exists in co-expression of SMCs and fibrinogen between unstable and stable angina. Interestingly, the total number of SMCs at the first stages of formation of unstable plaques is less than in stable plaques. However, in a number of advanced coronary atherosclerotic plaques associated with unstable angina, we observed an increasingly progressive inflammatory cell activity, in which SMC areas were significantly increased.


CONCLUSIONS
This distribution of fibrinogen and SMCs suggests the possibility of a link between SMC migration and proliferation, intensifying the increased fibrinogen concentration in atherosclerotic plaques.
Loukas
Marios
M
Department of Pathology, Institute of Rheumatology, Warsaw, Poland.
Dabrowski
Marek
M
Wagner
Teresa
T
Walczak
Ewa
E
Witkowski
Adam
A
Ruzyłło
Witold
W
D000703:Analog-Digital Conversion; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017225:Atherectomy, Coronary; D002452:Cell Count; D002455:Cell Division; D002465:Cell Movement; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000473:pathology*
D005340:Fibrinogen