Improved Identification of Endothelial Erosion by Simultaneous Detection of Endothelial Cells (CD31/CD34) and Platelets (CD42b)

Abstract

Loss of endothelial cells (ECs) with ensuing exposure of thrombogenic subendothelial surface is a common cause of thromboembolic complications in atherosclerotic arteries. Thus, endothelial denudation has emerged as a major contributor to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and its complications. Despite ongoing efforts in elucidating the pathogenesis of endothelial erosions in human atherosclerotic arteries, the mechanisms of erosion have remained enigmatic, partly due to lack of well-established methods for its identification. Here the authors point out plausible pitfalls in the current methodology and provide an improved immunohistochemical method for identifying endothelial erosion; i.e., immunofluorescence double staining with antibodies against CD42b and CD31/CD34. This method enables reliable detection of ECs and platelets in the same staining by allowing detection of "pseudoendothelium" caused by CD31 staining of a thin platelet layer covering sites of endothelial erosion. As erosion with a luminal platelet thrombus is likely to represent an in vivo erosion, and erosion without platelets an ex vivo artefact, the method makes it possible to exclude artefactual erosions resulting from sample processing. The novel immunostaining protocol presented here allows more reliable detection of endothelial erosions and so may facilitate studies on the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of plaque erosion and acute coronary syndromes.

Hydrogen sulfide decreases high glucose/palmitate-induced autophagy in endothelial cells by the Nrf2-ROS-AMPK signaling pathway

“…To further investigate the effects of H 2 S on arterial endothelial cell protection, we examined markers that could reflect the dysfunction of arterial endothelial cells, including the Von Willebrand factor (vWF), Integrin beta-1 (ITGβ1) and GP1βA. vWF is a surface membrane protein of endothelial cells, and it can bind with GP1βA, which mediates platelets adherence to endothelial cells [ 21 ]. ITGβ1 is capable of binding to intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) forming the ItG-ICAM complex, which can facilitate erythrocyte adherence to endothelial cells [ 22 ].…”

Biomechanics and Inflammation in Atherosclerotic Plaque Erosion and Plaque Rupture: Implications for Cardiovascular Events in Women

“…However, we observed significantly more Factor VIII, a marker of endothelium, in erosion specimens. This may be biased by our study methodology: we excluded regions where thrombus adhered to the wall because of the impossibility of distinguishing whether its source was endothelium or thrombus [28]. But, regions where thrombus has adhered to the wall are precisely the sites where denudation is expected.…”