Tissue factor expression in the morphologic spectrum of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques.
Inflammation and thrombosis are key events in the long-lasting sequence of atherosclerotic plaque initiation, plaque growth, and eventual onset of complications leading to clinically manifest disease. Recent cellular and molecular studies have indicated that inside the plaque tissue complex, proinflammatory and prothrombotic mechanisms are intimately associated, and tissue factor (TF) is one of the main proteins that may link both processes. It is therefore not surprising that TF expression appeared to be a prominent feature in various types of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques (i.e., lesions that specifically predispose to the onset of symptomatic atherosclerotic disease).
Department of Pathology, Academic Medical Center, University of AmsterdamMeibergdreef 9, 1105AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.a.c.vanderwal@amc.uva.nl
Allard C
AC
van der Wal
Xiaofei
X
Li
Onno J
OJ
de Boer
D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013925:Thromboplastin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D013925:Thromboplastin