Placenta growth factor expression in human atherosclerotic carotid plaques is related to plaque destabilization.
OBJECTIVE
Placenta growth factor (PlGF) mediates angiogenesis and inflammation, but its role in human atherosclerosis is unknown. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that PlGF-expression in human atherosclerotic carotid plaques is related to inflammation, vascularization and clinical plaque instability.


METHODS
The expression of PlGF, C-reactive protein (CRP) and CD40L was analyzed with Western blots in carotid plaques of 60 patients. Cellular infiltration (CD68, CD3) and vascularization (von-Willebrand-factor) was assessed by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Symptomatic patients showed higher levels of PlGF than asymptomatic patients (115.4+/-8.2 versus 83.6+/-10.5 densitometric units (DU), p<0.05) and higher grading for inflammatory cells and microvessels (CD3: 2.3+/-0.1 versus 0.6+/-0.1, p<0.001, CD68: 2.4+/-0.1 versus 0.8+/-0.1, p<0.001, microvessels: 2.3+/-0.1 versus 1.5+/-0.1, p<0.01). PlGF-expression showed a positive correlation to the expression of CRP (r=0.5, p<0.001) and CD40L (r=0.4, p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
PlGF-expression within human atherosclerotic lesions is associated with plaque inflammation and microvascular density, suggesting a role for PlGF in plaque destabilization and, thus, in clinical manifestation of the disease.
Pilarczyk
Kevin
K
Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic Rochester, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, USA.
Sattler
Katherine J E
KJE
Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic Rochester, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, USA.
Galili
Offer
O
Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic Rochester, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, USA.
Versari
Daniele
D
Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic Rochester, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, USA.
Olson
Monica L
ML
Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic Rochester, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, USA.
Meyer
Frederic B
FB
Department of Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN, USA.
Zhu
Xiang-Yang
XY
Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN, USA.
Lerman
Lilach O
LO
Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN, USA.
Lerman
Amir
A
Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic Rochester, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, USA. Electronic address: lerman.amir@mayo.edu.
D000368:Aged; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor