Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor is associated with macrophages and plaque rupture in symptomatic carotid atherosclerosis

  • Authors:
    • Per-Arne Svensson
    • Fredrik J. Olson
    • Daniel A. Hägg
    • Mikael Ryndel
    • Olov Wiklund
    • Lars Karlström
    • Johannes Hulthe
    • Lena M.S. Carlsson
    • Björn Fagerberg
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: October 1, 2008     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm_00000043
  • Pages: 459-464
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Abstract

There is a strong correlation between macrophage infiltration and plaque instability in recently symptomatic carotid atherosclerotic plaques, and it is hypothesised that mechanisms related to macrophages may be involved in plaque vulnerability and rupture. We previously found high expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (UPAR) in human macrophages. The aim of this study was to investigate whether UPAR co-localises with macrophages in symptomatic carotid plaques, and whether UPAR expression is associated with plaque rupture. Real-time RT-PCR assays showed that UPAR expression levels were high in monocyte-derived macrophages and in carotid endarterectomies compared with a tissue panel. Serial transverse sections were prepared from carotid endarterectomies from 12 symptomatic patients, and analyzed with immunohistochemical staining for UPAR and for CD68-positive macrophages, and with histopathological assessment. UPAR co-localised with CD68-positive macrophages, with a high correlation (r=0.90, p<0.001) between immunostained areas in 12 carotid endarterectomies from symptomatic patients. High degrees of UPAR and CD68 staining were found in sections around the bifurcation level where rupture was most common, while low degrees of staining were found in sections of the common carotid artery end of the endarterectomy (p<0.05). Higher degrees of UPAR staining were observed in ruptured plaque sections compared with non-ruptured sections. In conclusion, UPAR was highly expressed in monocyte-derived macrophages and in symptomatic carotid plaques, UPAR co-localised with macrophages in carotid symptomatic plaques and UPAR was predominantly found in ruptured plaque segments. These findings support the hypothesis that UPAR is related to plaque rupture in symptomatic atherosclerotic lesions.

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October 2008
Volume 22 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Svensson P, Olson FJ, Hägg DA, Ryndel M, Wiklund O, Karlström L, Hulthe J, Carlsson LM and Fagerberg B: Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor is associated with macrophages and plaque rupture in symptomatic carotid atherosclerosis. Int J Mol Med 22: 459-464, 2008.
APA
Svensson, P., Olson, F.J., Hägg, D.A., Ryndel, M., Wiklund, O., Karlström, L. ... Fagerberg, B. (2008). Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor is associated with macrophages and plaque rupture in symptomatic carotid atherosclerosis. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 22, 459-464. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm_00000043
MLA
Svensson, P., Olson, F. J., Hägg, D. A., Ryndel, M., Wiklund, O., Karlström, L., Hulthe, J., Carlsson, L. M., Fagerberg, B."Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor is associated with macrophages and plaque rupture in symptomatic carotid atherosclerosis". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 22.4 (2008): 459-464.
Chicago
Svensson, P., Olson, F. J., Hägg, D. A., Ryndel, M., Wiklund, O., Karlström, L., Hulthe, J., Carlsson, L. M., Fagerberg, B."Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor is associated with macrophages and plaque rupture in symptomatic carotid atherosclerosis". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 22, no. 4 (2008): 459-464. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm_00000043