title: Macrophage infiltration and smooth muscle cells content associated with haptoglobin genotype in human atherosclerotic carotid plaques.
abstract: We assessed the association between the haptoglobin (Hp) genotype and 2 common indicators of atherosclerotic plaque instability: macrophage infiltration and the smooth muscle cell (SMC) content. A total of 70 consecutive patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy were included in the study. For immunohistochemical study the anti-CD68 and anti-a-actin antibodies were used on adjacent serial sections; 36 plaques from patients with the Hp 1-1 or 2-1 genotype and 34 plaques from patients with the Hp 2-2 genotype were analyzed. The macrophage content (CD68+) was significantly higher in the Hp 2-2 group compared with that in the Hp 1-1 or 2-1 group (P < .001). In plaques from patients with diabetes, the SMC content was significantly lower in the Hp 2-2 group (P = .034). Carotid plaques from diabetic patients with Hp 2-2 genotype had higher macrophage infiltration and lower SMC content. Both parameters are indicators of atherosclerotic plaque instability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Red Cross Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece. christoslioupis@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lioupis
authors.forename: Calypso
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barbatis
authors.forename: Paraskevi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lazari
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Liasis
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Klonaris
authors.forename: Sotirios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Georgopoulos
authors.forename: Vasilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Andrikopoulos
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bastounis
mesh_terms: D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D006242:Haptoglobins