Expression of endothelial protein C receptor and thrombomodulin in human coronary atherosclerotic plaques.
BACKGROUND
The expression of selected genes in human coronary atherosclerotic plaques may help to clarify the evolution of atherogenesis and the causes of thrombogenesis on some fissured plaques. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of the genes known to participate in inflammation and hemostasis: thrombomodulin and endothelial protein C receptor, E- and P-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), tissue factor and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1).


METHODS
RNA was extracted and reverse-transcribed from 27 atherectomized human coronary atherosclerotic plaques. The genes were specifically amplified together with a housekeeping gene.


RESULTS
Thrombomodulin was not expressed in the 8/27 plaques from which RNA could be obtained. The levels of expression of tissue factor, ICAM-1, P- and E-selectin, and PAI-1 were low, whereas those of endothelial protein C receptor and VCAM-1 were high.


CONCLUSIONS
RNA may be extracted from ex vivo atherosclerotic plaques. In addition to anticoagulation, endothelial protein C receptor may play an important inflammation-related role in plaque development.
Merlini
Piera Angelica
PA
Division of Cardiology, Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Rossi
Marco L
ML
Faioni
Elena M
EM
Franchi
Franca
F
Bramucci
Ezio
E
Lucreziotti
Stefano
S
Biguzzi
Eugenia
E
Mannucci
Pier Mannuccio
PM
Ardissino
Diego
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD; D017225:Atherectomy, Coronary; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000601:surgery; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000235:genetics; D000074283:Endothelial Protein C Receptor; D016232:Endothelins / Q000235:genetics*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000235:genetics; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018180:Thrombomodulin / Q000235:genetics*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics
D015703:Antigens, CD; D019040:E-Selectin; D000074283:Endothelial Protein C Receptor; D016232:Endothelins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D019007:P-Selectin; C478370:PROCR protein, human; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018180:Thrombomodulin; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D012313:RNA