Inflammation plays a key role in atherosclerosis and plaque vulnerability, and monocyte/macrophage activation contributes to these processes. Neopterin, a by-product of the guanosine triphosphate pathway, is produced by activated macrophages on stimulation with interferon-γ released from T lymphocytes, and is an activation marker for monocytes/macrophages. Coronary angiographic studies have shown a relationship between increased circulating levels of neopterin and the presence of complex coronary lesions in patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP). Furthermore, in an immunohistochemical study performed using coronary atherectomy specimens, a significantly higher prevalence of neopterin-positive macrophages was found in culprit lesions in patients with UAP than in those with stable angina pectoris (SAP). We recently clarified that the presence of complex carotid plaques detected by carotid ultrasound was related to increased circulating levels of neopterin, and immunohistochemical localization of neopterin was observed in complex carotid lesions obtained from carotid endarterectomy in patients with SAP. These findings suggest that neopterin is an important biomarker of plaque instability in both coronary and carotid atherosclerotic lesions.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.5551/jat.4606 | DOI Listing |
Biomed Opt Express
December 2024
Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Institute, Thorax Center, Erasmus MC, The Netherlands.
Photothermal optical coherence microscopy (PT-OCM) combines the high-resolution, label-free morphological imaging of OCM with the ability to discriminate tissue composition through phase-sensitive photothermal imaging. In this study, we perform 2D imaging of human carotid endarterectomies to spectrally determine lipid distribution, with verification via histologically stained samples. The structural information from OCM is combined with the spectral information gained from measuring the resulting sample surface displacement from thermoelastic expansion, following light irradiation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis
December 2024
Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Clinical Research Center for Cerebrovascular Disease of Hunan Province, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. Electronic address:
Objectives: The conicity index (CI), an anthropometric parameter of visceral obesity, has exhibited a strong correlation with the incidence of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events. This study aimed to explore the relationship between CI and carotid plaque instability, as well as the potential differences between sexes in this context.
Methods: Our cross-sectional study included a total of 44,248 participants from the China Stroke High-risk Population Screening and Intervention Program (CSHPSIP), all of whom underwent carotid ultrasound for the evaluation of carotid plaque.
Vascul Pharmacol
December 2024
Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, 8 Baltiyskaya Street, Moscow 125315, Russia.
Atherosclerosis is a multifaceted disease characterised by chronic inflammation and vascular remodelling, leading to plaque formation and cardiovascular complications. Recent evidence highlights the critical role of epsins, a family of endocytic proteins, in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. This manuscript explores the multifarious functions of epsins in atherosclerosis, focusing on their involvement in angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and the modulation of key signalling pathways.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Toxicol
December 2024
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Fine particulate matter (PM) can exacerbate the instability of atherosclerotic plaques although the exact chemical process driving atherosclerosis remains unknown. In order to create atherosclerotic models, a high-fat diet and vitamin D3 injections were given to 56 Wistar rats in this investigation. The atherosclerotic rats were split into four groups at random and given different doses of PM (0, 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Sci (Weinh)
December 2024
Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China.
Atherosclerotic plaque rupture mainly contributes to acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Insufficient repair of these plaques leads to thrombosis and subsequent ACS. Central to this process is the modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) phenotypes, emphasizing their pivotal role in atherosclerotic plaque stability and healing post-disruption.
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