Plasminogen Activator Expression in Human Atherosclerotic Lesions

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The plasminogen activator (PA) system may participate in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis by modulating the turnover of intimal fibrin and extracellular matrix deposits and by contributing to intimal cell migration. We present an analysis of tissue-type PA (tPA) and urokinase-type PA (uPA) expression at three levels: mRNA by in situ hybridization, antigen by immunohistochemistry, and enzymatic activity by histoenzymology and zymography. For PA colocalization with cellular or matrix components, we used double immunofluorescence labeling in conjunction with confocal microscopy. In normal arteries, tPA antigen and mRNA were detected in endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells (SMCs). In atherosclerotic arteries, tPA antigen and mRNA were increased in intimal SMCs and in macrophage-derived foam cells of fibrofatty lesions. Part of the tPA was detected in the extracellular space and colocalized with fibrin deposits. uPA antigen and mRNA were detected in association with the intimal macrophages and...

This publication has 28 references indexed in Scilit: