High levels of myeloid-related protein 14 in human atherosclerotic plaques correlate with the characteristics of rupture-prone lesions

MG Ionita, A Vink, IE Dijke, JD Laman… - … , and vascular biology, 2009 - Am Heart Assoc
MG Ionita, A Vink, IE Dijke, JD Laman, W Peeters, PH van der Kraak, FL Moll, JPPM de Vries…
Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology, 2009Am Heart Assoc
Objective—Atherosclerotic plaque rupture can lead to severe complications such as
myocardial infarction and stroke. Myeloid related protein (Mrp)-14, Mrp-8, and Mrp-8/14
complex are inflammatory markers associated with myocardial infarction. It is, however,
unknown whether Mrps are associated with a rupture-prone plaque phenotype. In this study,
we determined the association between Mrp-14,-8,-8/14 plaque levels and plaque
characteristics. Methods and Results—In 186 human carotid plaques, levels of Mrp-14,-8 …
Objective— Atherosclerotic plaque rupture can lead to severe complications such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Myeloid related protein (Mrp)-14, Mrp-8, and Mrp-8/14 complex are inflammatory markers associated with myocardial infarction. It is, however, unknown whether Mrps are associated with a rupture-prone plaque phenotype. In this study, we determined the association between Mrp-14, -8, -8/14 plaque levels and plaque characteristics.
Methods and Results— In 186 human carotid plaques, levels of Mrp-14, -8, and -8/14 were quantified using ELISA. High levels of Mrp-14 were found in lesions with a large lipid core, high macrophage staining, and low smooth muscle cell and collagen amount. Plaques with high levels of Mrp-14 contained high interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-8, MMP-9, and low MMP-2 concentrations. Mrp-8 and Mrp-8/14 showed a similar trend. Within plaques, a subset of nonfoam macrophages expressed Mrp-8 and Mrp-14 and the percentage of Mrp-positive macrophages was higher in rupture-prone lesions compared to stable ones. In vitro, this subset of macrophages does not acquire a foamy phenotype when fed oxLDL.
Conclusion— Mrp-14 is strongly associated with the histopathologic features and the inflammatory status of rupture-prone atherosclerotic lesions, identifying Mrp-14 as a local marker for these plaques.
Am Heart Assoc