Abstract OBJECTIVE: The atherosclerotic plaque that is vulnerable to rupture and to superimposed thrombosis is mainly represented by a thin-cap fibroatheroma with or without ulceration/thrombosis and inflammatory infiltrates. Total serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity is an independent predictor for cardiovascular events. Four GGT fractions have been identified in plasma and only one of them (b-GGT) in atherosclerotic plaques, but the possible role of GGT in plaque pathophysiology has not been assessed yet. We investigated the relationships between plaque b-GGT activity and the histological features of plaque vulnerability. METHODS AND RESULTS: Plaque GGT activity was investigated in 65 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy; plaques were histologically characterized and immunostained for GGT. Intra-plaque total and fractional GGT activity was determined by a cost-effective test of molecular size exclusion chromatography, and compared with histological markers of plaque vulnerability. Plaque cholesterol content was also measured by chromatography. b-GGT was the only fraction detected within the atherosclerotic plaques and intra-plaque b-GGT activity correlated to plaque cholesterol content (r = 0.667, P < 0.0001), plasma b-GGT and f-GGT fractions (r = 0.249; r = 0.298, both P < 0.05). Higher b-GGT activity was found in thin-cap fibroatheromas and it was associated to histological markers of vulnerable plaques, i.e., larger necrotic areas, greater macrophage infiltration and higher cholesterol content (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: intra-plaque b-GGT activity correlates with the histological markers of vulnerable plaque and with plasma b-GGT in human carotid atherosclerosis; these data support the possible role of b-GGT in clinically significant atherosclerotic disease.
Autori interni: | FRANZINI, MARIA (Co-primo) PAOLICCHI, ALDO (Ultimo) |
Autori: | Pucci, A; Franzini, Maria; Matteucci, M; Ceragioli, S; Marconi, M; Ferrari, Mauro; Passino, C; Basolo, Fulvio; Emdin, M; Paolicchi, Aldo |
Titolo: | b-Gamma-glutamyltransferase activity in human vulnerable carotid plaques. |
Anno del prodotto: | 2014 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2014.09.028 |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 1.1 Articolo in rivista |
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