Overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 is correlated with carotid intraplaque hemorrhage in a swine model.
OBJECTIVE
Carotid intraplaque hemorrhage may result in rapid worsening of stenosis and thrombus formation leading to stroke in patients with carotid atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to assess the association of the lesional expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 with carotid plaque and intraplaque hemorrhage in a swine model.


METHODS
Carotid atherosclerosis was induced in miniswine using a combination of partial ligation and a high cholesterol diet. The carotid artery and rete mirabile were obtained for histopathological and immunohistochemical studies at 3 months. Atherosclerotic changes were classified by Stary stage according to the American Heart Association and the features of vulnerable carotid plaque were assessed. The association of MMP-9 expression in the carotid plaque with intraplaque hemorrhage was analyzed.


RESULTS
One hundred and ninety-one carotid segments from 10 carotid artery models were assessed. Among 139 segments with atherosclerotic changes, 102 had advanced plaque (Stary stage IV-VI). Atheroemboli were found in all 10 rete mirabili, confirming the presence of vulnerable ipsilateral carotid plaques. There was a trend to increased MMP-9 expression in the group with advanced plaque. Areas positive for MMP-9 were significantly greater in plaques with intraplaque hemorrhage than in those without intraplaque hemorrhage (11.84±1.22% vs 6.63±0.59%, p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Increased expression of MMP-9 is associated with intraplaque hemorrhage in a swine model of vulnerable carotid atherosclerosis.
Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Xiao-Bing
XB
Jiang
Jin-Shan
JS
Wang
Dong-Hong
DH
Liu
Wei-Si
WS
Yuan
Zhong-Song
ZS
Shi
D000818:Animals; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000473:pathology; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000473:pathology; D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000150:complications* / Q000201:enzymology*; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature
D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8