[Expression and significance of inflammatory factors and bone formation mediators in carotid atherosclerotic plaque].
OBJECTIVE
To compare protein levels of pro-inflammatory factors and bone formation mediators in the fibrous cap and shoulder region of non-calcified and calcified carotid endarterectomy (CEA) plaques.


METHODS
Twenty-two CEA plaques were classified as non-calcified and calcified groups (n=11 each) in accordance with the American Heart Association (AHA) consensus in 1995. To make frozen sections and H&E staining using plaque, the mean percent of carotid stenosis and calcification area was determined by quantitative histomorphometry. The protein levels of pro-inflammatory interleukin-8 (IL-8), monocyte chematactic protein-1 (MCP-1), bone formation mediators bone morphogenetic protein-6 (BMP-6), and osteocalcin in the fibrous cap and shoulder region of plaques were determined by western blot and were quantified using ImageJ software.


RESULTS
MCP-1 and IL-8 protein were 1.3 (P>0.05) and 1.5 (P<0.05) folds greater in the non-calcified plaques than those in the calcified plaques. BMP-6 and osteocalcin protein were 1.3 (P>0.05) and 2.1 (P<0.01) folds greater in the calcified plaques compared with those of the non-calcified plaques.


CONCLUSIONS
Inflammation is more likely to occur in non-calcified carotid plaques, and calcification in the plaques may be associated with bone formation, which indicates that decreased inflammation may be the beginning of calcification in carotid atherosclerotic plaques.
Zheng
Wei
W
Department of General Surgery II, Peopleos Hospital of Hunan, Changsha 410005, China. weizheng62003@yahoo.com
Kang
Hong
H
Shu
Chang
C
Tang
Mei-lai
ML
Fang
Pei-zhi
PZ
Xie
Jing
J
He
Jie
J
Wang
Meng
M
D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D055418:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism*
C525816:BMP6 protein, human; D055418:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 6; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D016209:Interleukin-8