The expression of matrix metalloproteinases-9, transforming growth factor-beta1 and transforming growth factor-beta receptor I in human atherosclerotic plaque and their relationship with plaque stability.
BACKGROUND
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of human atherosclerosis but their relationship during lesion progression are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of MMP-9, TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta receptor I (TbetaR-I) in human atherosclerotic plaque and their relationship and plaque stability.


METHODS
Specimens of human coronary artery atherosclerotic plaques were obtained from 41 patients undergoing coronary endarterectomy, and were paraffin embedded, sectioned at 4 microm intervals then stained with haematoxylin and eosin. They were divided into stable (with no or only little lipid core) and unstable plaque groups (with lipid core size > 40%): the immunohistochemical staining were performed for MMP-9, TGF-beta1 and TbetaR-I.


RESULTS
The expression of MMP-9 in the unstable plaques was much higher than in the stable ones, but the expression of TGF-beta1 was higher in the stable plaques. There was no similar significant difference for TbetaR-I. Correlation analysis showed that there was a negative correlation between the expression of MMP-9 and TGF-beta1 (r = -0.332, P = 0.034 for average areal density; r = -0.373, P = 0.016 for average optical density).


CONCLUSIONS
There were close relationships between MMP-9, TGF-beta1 and plaque stability. Enhanced production of MMP-9 may participate in the formation of unstable plaque, while TGF-beta1 maybe an important stabilizing factor in preventing transition into an unstable plaque phenotype.
Jiang
Xin
X
Department of Cardiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Zeng
He-song
HS
Guo
Yi
Y
Zhou
Zhi-bin
ZB
Tang
Bing-shan
BS
Li
Fu-kang
FK
D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I / Q000032:analysis*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9