title: Factor Seven Activating Protease (FSAP) expression in human monocytes and accumulation in unstable coronary atherosclerotic plaques.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Factor Seven Activating Protease (FSAP) is known to influence fibrinolysis and to play a critical role in the inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration as well as neointima formation. In order to define the role of FSAP in vascular pathophysiology we have investigated the expression of FSAP protein and mRNA in human vascular cells and coronary atherosclerotic plaques with defined clinical features.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) specimens from 40 lesions were analyzed for FSAP antigen and mRNA expression. Higher level of FSAP mRNA (p<0.001) as well as FSAP immunostaining (p<0.005) was observed in patients with acute coronary syndromes compared to patients with stable angina pectoris. FSAP antigen was found to be focally accumulated in hypocellular and lipid-rich areas within the necrotic core of atherosclerotic plaques. FSAP was also co-localized with CD11b/CD68 expressing cells in macrophage-rich shoulder regions of the plaques. Monocyte-derived macrophages expressed FSAP in vitro and this was further induced by pro-inflammatory mediators.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FSAP accumulation in coronary atherosclerotic lesions is due to either local synthesis by monocytes/macrophages, or uptake from the plasma due to plaque hemorrhage. The higher expression of FSAP in unstable plaques suggests that it may destabilize plaque through reducing VSMC proliferation/migration and altering the hemostatic balance.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine I/Cardiology and Angiology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Mariana S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Parahuleva
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biochemistry, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Sandip M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kanse
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine I/Cardiology and Angiology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Behnoush
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Parviz
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine I/Cardiology and Angiology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barth
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine I/Cardiology and Angiology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tillmanns
authors.affiliation: Institute of General and Specialist Pathology, Homburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Rainer M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bohle
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine I/Cardiology and Angiology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Sedding
authors.affiliation: Hochtaunusklinik Internal Medicine I/Cardiology and Angiology, Urseler Straße 33, 61348 Bad Homburg, Germany. Electronic address: hans.hoelschermann@hochtaunus-kliniken.de.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hölschermann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000503:physiopathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C433550:HABP2 protein, human; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases