Hypoxia, hypoxia-inducible transcription factor, and macrophages in human atherosclerotic plaques are correlated with intraplaque angiogenesis.

Objectives: We sought to examine the presence of hypoxia in human carotid atherosclerosis and its association with hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF) and intraplaque angiogenesis.

Background: Atherosclerotic plaques develop intraplaque angiogenesis, which is a typical feature of hypoxic tissue and expression of HIF.

Methods: To examine the presence of hypoxia in atherosclerotic plaques, the hypoxia marker pimonidazole was infused before carotid endarterectomy in 7 symptomatic patients.

Dead or alive: gene expression profiles of advanced atherosclerotic plaques from autopsy and surgery.

Since inclusion of atherosclerotic tissues from different sources is often indispensable to study the full atherogenic spectrum, we investigated to what extent the expression profiles of advanced, stable atherosclerotic lesions obtained during autopsy and surgery are comparable. The gene expression profiles of human carotids with advanced atherosclerosis obtained at autopsy and at vascular surgery were studied by microarray analysis. Expression analysis was performed both at the single gene (Rosetta, Gene Ontology) and at the pathway level using Ingenuity and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis.