title: New Markers in Atherosclerosis: Thrombospondin-2 (THBS-2) and Leukocyte Cell-Derived Chemotaxin-2 (LECT-2); An Immunohistochemical Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND Current research investigating the role of THBS2 and LECT-2 in atherogenesis is very limited. Therefore, we designed this study to demonstrate the role of THBS-2 and LECT-2 in atherosclerosis at the tissue level in fresh specimens. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 32 patients who underwent coronary bypass surgery were enrolled. Aortic wall punch biopsies were obtained at the site of proximal aortosaphenous bypass graft anastomosis. A specimen of left internal mammarian artery (LiMA) was taken from the segment just proximal to its anastomosis. The aortic tissue is representive of the atherosclerotic tisue, and LiMA tissue is representative of the non-atherosclerotic area. The specimens were painted with CD68 for macrophage, and THBS-2 and LECT-2 antibodies for immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS Aortic THBS-2 levels were significantly lower, whereas aortic LECT-2 levels were significantly higher when compare to LiMA (14.4±9.9 (5-30) and 36.9±13.0 (5-60) p: 0.0001 and 20.3±15.0 (5-60) and 20.8±13,8 (10-30) p: 0.0001, respectively). CD68+ and monocyte level correlated significantly with AHA atherosclerosis grade (p=0.01, r=0.45 and p=0.001, r=0.56, Spearman's test). CD68+ level correlated significantly with LECT-2 levels in atherosclerotic aortic tissue (p=0.026, r=0.392, Spearman's test), whereas aortic TSBN-2 levels were not. CONCLUSIONS The present study has taken the first steps to highlight new markers in atherosclerosis by using immunohistochemical method. The study results suggest that the tissue levels of THBS2 and LECT-2 may correlate with the stage of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, BezmiAlem Vakif University, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatma Cavide
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Sonmez
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, BezmiAlem Vakif University, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Pelin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Cardiology, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Muhammad Salman
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Akhtar
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, BezmiAlem Vakif University, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cemalettin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, BezmiAlem Vakif University, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sonmez
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, BezmiAlem Vakif University, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nuray
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ay
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, BezmiAlem Vakif University, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Akif
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Vatankulu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019699:Thrombospondins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099262:Thrombospondin 2
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D019699:Thrombospondins; D000099262:Thrombospondin 2; C103468:LECT2 protein, human