Abstract
Materials and methodsThe experiment was carried out on 100 symptomatic patients with internal carotid artery stenosis that underwent carotid endarterectomy. Every patient had the wall of the carotid artery resected during organ harvesting surgery in order to evaluate some cytokines (TGF-β, VEGF, FGF, TNF-α) and to perform the immunohistochemistry (IHC). An immunoreactive score (IRS) was calculated based on the staining intensity and the number of cells stained. Over a 3-year period, 7 patients died, and 2 patients were lost to follow-up. The study group consisted of 91 patients. The control group comprised 20 young organ donors with confirmed death brain, who had their normal carotid artery sampled.ResultsIn all healthy donors (control group) with normal carotid arteries the three cytokines (TGF-β, VEGF, TNF-α) were not discovered. The presence of FGF was confirmed in 25% of healthy donors, probably due to an intima fibroblasts activity, responsible for the synthesis of elastin and collagen to the extracellular matrix (ECM). Only three cytokines (TGF-β, FGF, TNF-α) were found within atheromatous plaques (study group).ConclusionsOur research confirmed that these factors may accelerate the development of atheromatic plaque and its destabilisation.The aim of the study was the evaluation of the inflammatory cytokines within atheromatic carotid plaque.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1749-8090-9-139) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Cytokines are protein and peptide signaling molecules used in intercellular communication [1,2,3,4,5]
The presence of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) was confirmed in 25% of healthy donors, probably due to an intima fibroblasts activity, responsible for the synthesis of elastin and collagen to the extracellular matrix (ECM)
During the endarterectomy each patient had the part of internal carotid artery wall excised to examine the presence of some cytokines: transforming growth factor (TGF-ß), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α)
Summary
Cytokines are protein and peptide signaling molecules used in intercellular communication [1,2,3,4,5] Cytokines are characterised both by renundancy (i.e. many cytokines have similar functions) as well as by pleiotropism [6,7]. They may increase the smooth muscle proliferation by myocytes as well as synthesis and release of collagen and elastin to extracellular space by fibroblasts [8]. Such processes may cause the human atheromatous plaque enlargement and destabilization, which may lead directly to stroke [9]. The aim of the study The comparison of some cytokines concentrations within atheromatic carotid plaque and normal carotid artery
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