[Urokinase receptor expression in atherosclerotic plaques of human femoral arteries].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the urokinase receptor (uPAR) expression in atherosclerotic plaques of human femoral arteries.


METHODS
Human femoral artery samples were collected from patients underwent femoral endarterectomy. Normal internal mammary artery samples were taken from bypass surgery served as control. uPAR protein distribution at shoulders, lipid pool and rupture sites of a plaque and the association with macrophages and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) were detected by immunohistochemistry methods.


RESULTS
There was no uPAR expression in intima or tunica media of normal internal mammary arteries. In atherosclerotic lesions of femoral artery, the mean optical density (A) of uPAR was 92 +/- 37 in intima and 46 +/- 28 in tunica media (P < 0.05). The intimal uPAR was coexisted with macrophages and SMCs. uPAR expression was observed at plaque shoulders and lipid pool, while the maximal expression was found at rupture sites.


CONCLUSIONS
The increased expression of uPAR in atherosclerotic lesion and uPAR distribution at shoulders, lipid pool, as well as rupture sites of plaques suggest a role of uPAR in plaque rupture process.
Chen
Wei
W
Department of Cardiology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
Chen
Lian-feng
LF
Yin
Hong-chao
HC
Zhu
Wen-ling
WL
Zhang
Shu-yang
SY
Fang
Quan
Q
Liu
Bao
B
Ye
Wei
W
Liu
Chang-wei
CW
Guan
Heng
H
D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D004691:Endarterectomy; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism*; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism
D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator