Initial Research On The Expression Of CD40L And MMP-2 In Atherosclerosis In Human Coronary Artery

In recent years, a lot of studies have defined that inflammatory plays a crucial part in the genesis and develop of atherosclerosis, moreover along with happen of the severe heart event which was induced by atherosclerosis plaque rupture, the research of plaque stability is highly valued. Among the total, CD40L play a important role in the chronic inflammatory procedure of the genesis, develop and evolution of atherosclerosis; the inactive MMP-2 can be turned into the active MMP-2 by the mediate of CD40L. MMP-2 play a crucial role in the plaque rupture, to promote the genesis and develop of atherosclerosis.Objective: To detect protein expression of CD40L and MMP-2 in coronary artery of patients with coronary atherosclerosis and analyze the relation between CD40L and MMP-2 with coronary atherosclerosis, approach the relationship between the inflammatory index and plaque stability, to provide the experiment proof for clinical diagnosis, treatment and prognostic evaluation.Method: Considering the medical history and gross observation of 50 autopsy cases, they were classified as 12 normal cases and 38 athersclerosis coronary artery. The samples were divided into three different groups, designated as unstable plague groups (16 samples), stable plague groups (22 samples), and normal atherosclerosis (12 samples). These specimens were detected by immunohistochemistry, locate macrophage (CD68) and smooth muscle cell (α-actin) in the plague. Nonparametric statistics and Spearman test are applied in statistics treatment.Result: CD40L protein can be tested in endomembrane of atherosclerosis coronary artery, mainly in macrophage, foam cells endothe- lial cell. In control groups, no expression can be detected. There is significant difference between unstable plague and stable plagues(P = 0.023) and higher level manifested in unstable ones. MMP-2 protein expression can be observed in atherosclerosis, mainly in macrophage, foam cells, endothelial cell, smooth muscle cell in endomembrane, smooth muscle cell and fibrocyre in tunica media. Expression difference exists both endomembrane(P = 0.012) and tunica media(P = 0.021). In control groups, no expression can be detected. MMP-2 expression level in higher in unstable plagues than that in stable ones. Positive associations between CD40L and MMP-2 expression intensity showed in Spearman tests (rs = 0.603 P = 0.000).Conclusion: CD40L and MMP-2 expression can be tested in atherosclerosis and expression level is higher in unstable plagues than stable ones, while no expressions exist in control group. This indicates CD40L and MMP-2 both participate in the initiation and development of atherosclerosis and are highly relevant to the unstable plague.Positive association between CD40L and MMP-2 on the perspective of or protein level indicates that CD40L is in coordination with MMP-2 during the development of atherosclerosis.