TY - JOUR
TI - Vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinase 9 expression in human carotid atherosclerotic plaques: Relationship with plaque destabilization via neovascularization
AU - Papalambros, E.
AU - Sigala, F.
AU - Georgopoulos, S.
AU - Panou, N.
AU - Kavatzas, N.
AU - Agapitos, M.
AU - Bastounis, E.
JO - Cerebrovascular Diseases
PY - 2004
VL - 18
TODO - 2
SP - 160-165
PB - 
SN - 1015-9770, 1421-9786
TODO - 10.1159/000079736
TODO - cholesterol;  gelatinase B;  vasculotropin, adult;  aged;  artery occlusion;  article;  atherosclerosis;  atherosclerotic plaque;  brain scintiscanning;  clinical study;  endarterectomy;  female;  histopathology;  human;  human tissue;  immunohistochemistry;  major clinical study;  male;  morphology;  neovascularization (pathology);  priority journal;  protein expression;  symptom, Aged;  Aged, 80 and over;  Carotid Artery Diseases;  Cohort Studies;  Endothelium, Vascular;  Female;  Humans;  Immunohistochemistry;  Macrophages;  Male;  Matrix Metalloproteinase 9;  Middle Aged;  Muscle, Smooth, Vascular;  Neovascularization, Physiologic;  Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
TODO - Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential impact of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on carotid plaque destabilization in association with matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) production. Methods: Expression of VEGF and MMP-9 were determined immunohistochemically in 53 human endarterectomized atherosclerotic carotid plaques. The relationship to carotid plaque characteristics, clinical data and histological morphology was investigated. Results: VEGF and MMP-9 had parallel overexpression in the inflammatory cells, especially in the neovascularized plaque lesions and around the cholesterol crystals. Strong expression of VEGF was evident in symptomatic patients (p < 0.057), in high-degree stenosis (p = 0.005), and in patients with ischemic infarct in brain scan (p = 0.021). No relation was proved between molecule expression and plaque ultrasonic characteristics. Conclusions: An intense expression of VEGF and MMP-9 in carotid plaques is related to plaque instability, high degree of stenosis and presence of symptomatic carotid occlusive disease. Copyright © 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel.
ER -