title: Increased expression of endothelial lipase in symptomatic and unstable carotid plaques.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate endothelial lipase (EL) protein expression in advanced human carotid artery plaques (HCAP) with regard to plaque (in)stability and the incidence of symptoms. HCAP were collected from 66 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA). The degree of plaque (in)stability was estimated by ultrasound and histology. In HCAP sections, EL expression was determined by immunostaining and the intensity was assessed on a semi-quantitative scale (low: <25%, high: >25% positive cells). Monocytes and macrophages in adjacent HCAP sections were stained with a CD163 specific antibody. High EL staining was more prevalent in histologically unstable plaques (in 33.3% of fibrous plaques, 50% of ulcerated non-complicated plaques and 79.2% of ulcerated complicated plaques; χ(2) test, p = 0.004) and in the symptomatic group (70.8 vs. 42.9% in the asymptomatic group; χ(2) test, p = 0.028). The majority of EL immunostaining was found in those HCAP regions exhibiting a strong CD163 immunostaining. EL in HCAP might be a marker and/or promoter of plaque instability and HCAP-related symptomatology.
authors.affiliation: University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Matias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trbušić
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riederer
authors.forename: Majda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vučić
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lovričević
authors.forename: Božo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Krušlin
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gauster
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohrenz
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berghold
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tiran
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Degoricija
authors.forename: Saša
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frank
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000379:methods; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008049:Lipase / Q000378:metabolism*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D012083:Renin / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000098902:CD163 Antigen
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D000098902:CD163 Antigen; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D008049:Lipase; D012083:Renin