title: Platelets enter atherosclerotic plaque via intraplaque microvascular leakage and intraplaque hemorrhage: a histopathological study in carotid plaques.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Platelets foster an inflammatory environment that influences atherosclerotic lesion progression and facilitates plaque rupture, in addition to their role in acute thrombus formation. The route of entry of platelets into the atherosclerotic plaque and their exact location inside the plaque are however not completely understood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  188 carotid plaques were examined for the presence of platelets using immunohistochemistry (CD42b), and 76/188 (40.4%) were platelet positive. Platelets were observed in intraplaque hemorrhages, around plaque microvessels, mostly without leakage of erythrocytes; and in mural thrombi. Platelet positive staining was associated with a higher plaque microvessel density, and elevated plaque-levels of interleukin-8.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to their short life span, platelets reflect recent bleeding. It can be hypothesized that platelets might serve as a marker for leaky microvessels inside atherosclerotic plaques that are at risk for development, or progression of plaque hemorrhage.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Cardiology Laboratory, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. g.w.vanlammeren@umcutrecht.nl
authors.forename: Guus W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: van Lammeren
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pasterkamp
authors.forename: Jean-Paul P M
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.forename: Judith J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: de Haan
authors.forename: Dominique P V
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: de Kleijn
authors.forename: Frans L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Moll
authors.forename: Aryan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vink
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic; D019038:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIb-IX Complex / Q000032:analysis; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C508606:CXCL8 protein, human; D016209:Interleukin-8; D019038:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIb-IX Complex