Inflammation, Microcalcification, and Increased Expression of Osteopontin Are Histological Hallmarks of Plaque Vulnerability in Patients with Advanced Carotid Artery Stenosis

Balmos, Ioan Alexandru; Horváth, Emőke; Brînzaniuc, Klara; Mureșan, Adrian Vasile; Olah, Peter; Molnár, Gyopár Beáta; Nagy, Eniko Nemes

doi:10.3390/biomedicines11030881

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 46 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Calcification in an atherosclerotic plaque presents in two forms: microcalcification and macrocalcification [ 40 ]. Microcalcification is usually seen in earlier stages of atherosclerosis, furthermore, it activates the inflammatory response and is characteristic of an unstable plaque [ 41 , 42 ]. Over time, sheet-like, dense calcification develops that is observed mostly in stable, fibrocalcific plaques.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Is an Independent Risk Factor for Coronary Artery Disease in Central Obesity

Bagyura

Kiss

Lux

et al. 2023

IJMS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Several inflammatory biomarkers were found to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a marker of subclinical inflammation that increases with the stress response. Visceral adiposity index (VAI) calculated as a combination of anthropometric and metabolic parameters reflects both the extent and function of visceral adipose tissue. Given the association of subclinical inflammation with both obesity and cardiovascular diseases, it is plausible that the inflammation–CVD association is modulated by the amount and function of adipose tissue. Thus, our aim was to examine the association between NLR and coronary artery calcium score (CACS), an intermediate marker of coronary artery disease in asymptomatic patients across VAI tertiles. Methods: Data from 280 asymptomatic participants of a cardiovascular screening program were analysed. In addition to the collection of lifestyle and medical history, a non-contrast cardiac CT scan and laboratory tests were performed on all participants. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted with CACS > 100 as the outcome and with conventional cardiovascular risk factors and NLR, VAI, and NLR by VAI tertile as predictors. Results: We found an interaction between VAI tertiles and NLR; NLR values were similar in the lower VAI tertiles, while they were higher in the CACS > 100 in the 3rd VAI tertile (CACS ≤ 100: 1.94 ± 0.58 vs. CACS > 100: 2.48 ± 1.1, p = 0.008). According to multivariable logistic regression, the interaction between NLR and VAI tertiles remained: NLR was associated with CACS > 100 in the 3rd VAI tertile (OR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.06–2.62, p = 0.03) but not in the lower tertiles even after adjustment for age, sex, smoking, history of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, and diabetes mellitus, as well as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Our findings draw attention to the independent association between subclinical, chronic, systemic inflammation and subclinical coronary disease in obesity.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Is an Independent Risk Factor for Coronary Artery Disease in Central Obesity

Bagyura

Kiss

Lux

et al. 2023

IJMS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Intraplaque Neovascularization, CD68+ and iNOS2+ Macrophage Infiltrate Intensity Are Associated with Atherothrombosis and Intraplaque Hemorrhage in Severe Carotid Atherosclerosis

Balmos,

Slevin,

Brinzaniuc

et al. 2023

Biomedicines

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease that results from endothelial dysfunction, inflammatory arterial wall disorder and the formation of the atheromatous plaque. This results in carotid artery stenosis and is responsible for atherothrombotic stroke and ischemic injury. Low-grade plaque inflammation determines biological stability and lesion progression. Methods: Sixty-seven cases with active perilesional inflammatory cell infiltrate were selected from a larger cohort of patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. CD68+, iNOS2+ and Arg1+ macrophages and CD31+ endothelial cells were quantified around the atheroma lipid core using digital morphometry, and expression levels were correlated with determinants of instability: ulceration, thrombosis, plaque hemorrhage, calcification patterns and neovessel formation. Results: Patients with intraplaque hemorrhage had greater CD68+ macrophage infiltration (p = 0.003). In 12 cases where iNOS2 predominated over Arg1 positivity, the occurrence of atherothrombotic events was significantly more frequent (p = 0.046). CD31 expression, representing neovessel formation, correlated positively with atherothrombosis (p = 0.020). Conclusions: Intraplaque hemorrhage is often described against the background of an intense inflammatory cell infiltrate. Atherothrombosis is associated with the presence of neovessels and pro-inflammatory macrophages expressing iNOS2. Modulating macrophage polarization may be a successful therapeutic approach to prevent plaque destabilization.

show abstract

Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Calcification and Experimental Models: Impact of Vitamin K Antagonists

Siracusa,

Carino,

Carabetta

et al. 2024

JCM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cardiovascular calcification is a multifactorial and complex process involving an array of molecular mechanisms eventually leading to calcium deposition within the arterial walls. This process increases arterial stiffness, decreases elasticity, influences shear stress events and is related to an increased risk of morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular disease. In numerous in vivo and in vitro models, warfarin therapy has been shown to cause vascular calcification in the arterial wall. However, the exact mechanisms of calcification formation with warfarin remain largely unknown, although several molecular pathways have been identified. Circulating miRNA have been evaluated as biomarkers for a wide range of cardiovascular diseases, but their exact role in cardiovascular calcification is limited. This review aims to describe the current state-of-the-art research on the impact of warfarin treatment on the development of vascular calcification and to highlight potential molecular targets, including microRNA, within the implicated pathways.

show abstract

Inflammation, Microcalcification, and Increased Expression of Osteopontin Are Histological Hallmarks of Plaque Vulnerability in Patients with Advanced Carotid Artery Stenosis

Cited by 3 publications

References 46 publications

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Is an Independent Risk Factor for Coronary Artery Disease in Central Obesity

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Is an Independent Risk Factor for Coronary Artery Disease in Central Obesity

Intraplaque Neovascularization, CD68+ and iNOS2+ Macrophage Infiltrate Intensity Are Associated with Atherothrombosis and Intraplaque Hemorrhage in Severe Carotid Atherosclerosis

Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Calcification and Experimental Models: Impact of Vitamin K Antagonists

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About