This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Taurino, M. Articles by Faraglia, V. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Taurino, M. Articles by Faraglia, V. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Metalloproteinase Expression in Carotid Plaque and Its Correlation With Plasma Levels Before and After Carotid Endarterectomy

U.O.C. Chirurgia Vascolare, "S. Andrea" Hospital, 2nd Medical School, University of Rome "La Sapienza," Rome, Italy, maurizio.taurino@ uniroma1.it

Salvatore Raffa, MD

U.O.C. Diagnostica Cellulare "S. Andrea" Hospital, 2nd Medical School, University of Rome "La Sapienza," Rome, Italy

Massimo Mastroddi, MD

U.O.C. Chirurgia Vascolare, "S. Andrea" Hospital, 2nd Medical School, University of Rome "La Sapienza," Rome, Italy

Vincenzo Visco, MD

U.O.C. Diagnostica Cellulare "S. Andrea" Hospital, 2nd Medical School, University of Rome "La Sapienza," Rome, Italy

Luigi Rizzo, MD

U.O.C. Chirurgia Vascolare, "S. Andrea" Hospital, 2nd Medical School, University of Rome "La Sapienza," Rome, Italy

Maria Rosaria Torrisi

U.O.C. Diagnostica Cellulare "S. Andrea" Hospital, 2nd Medical School, University of Rome "La Sapienza," Rome, Italy

Vittorio Faraglia, MD

U.O.C. Chirurgia Vascolare, "S. Andrea" Hospital, 2nd Medical School, University of Rome "La Sapienza," Rome, Italy

Purpose To assess baseline and follow-up plasma concentrations of metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), MMP-2, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) in patients undergoing carotid thromboendarterectomy (TEA) in relation to tissue expression and diagnostic features.

Basic Methods Using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, plasma levels of enzymes were determined in 15 patients undergoing carotid TEA. Tissue sections were incubated with specific antibodies and fluorescence intensity was analyzed.

Principal Findings MMP-9 levels were higher in patients with carotid stenosis versus controls, significantly in those with cerebral lesions at neuroimaging. MMP-9 levels decreased in 93.4% of the patients at 1 month. MMP-2 levels tended to increase 30 days after surgery. TIMP-2 showed no difference.

Conclusions High concentrations of MMP-9 found in patients with carotid stenosis and cerebral lesions suggest that MMP-9 assay could be useful in the evaluation of all carotid lesions to help identify those at highest risk of a neurologic event.

Key Words: metalloproteinase • MMP-9 • carotid plaque • thromboendarterectomy

Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Vol. 41, No. 6, 516-521 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1538574407307405


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?