缝隙连接蛋白43与基质金属蛋白酶9在人股动脉粥样硬化斑块中表达分析

Expression of CX-43 and MMP-9 in atherosclerotic plaques of human femoral artery

摘要:

目的  探讨缝隙连接蛋白43（CX-43）与基质金属蛋白酶9（MMP-9）在人股动脉粥样硬化（AS）斑块中的表达及其与斑块稳定性关系。方法  收集股动脉内膜剥脱术后所得AS斑块标本47例，正常脾动脉、肠系膜上动脉组织标本21例作为对照组。根据术前彩超及术后病理检查结果进行分组：稳定斑块组（22例）和不稳定斑块组（25例），免疫组织化学SP法检测各标本中CX-43和MMP-9的表达以及两者之间的相关性。结果  CX-43和MMP-9蛋白在对照组、稳定斑块组及不稳定斑块组中的表达均有差异（FCX-43=662.971，FMMP-9=397.716），差异有统计学意义（P <0.05）。和对照组比较，斑块组CX-43和MMP-9表达均增高，差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。不稳定斑块组较稳定斑块组CX-43和MMP-9表达明显增强，且差异有统计学意义（P <0.05）。相关性研究结果显示，CX-43和MMP-9在AS组表达呈正相关（r稳定斑块组=0.640，P <0.05；r不稳定斑块=
0.715，P <0.05），对照组研究结果提示CX-43与MMP-9无明显相关性。结论 CX-43和MMP-9蛋白表达的上调促进人股动脉粥样硬化斑块形成以及斑块组织的不稳定性。

Abstract:

Objective To discuss the expression levels of CX-gap junction protein 43 (CX-43) and matrix metallo-
proteinase 9 (MMP-9) in atherosclerotic plaques of human femoral artery, and their correlations with the stability of the plaques. Methods Totally 68 specimens were collected, of which 47 atherosclerotic plaque specimens were from patients who underwent femoral artery endarterectomy (experimental group) and 21 specimens were from normal splenic artery or superior mesenteric artery (control group). Then the 47 atherosclerotic plaque specimens were divided into stable-plaque group (22 cases) and unstable-plaque group (25 cases) according to ultrasonography and pathological results. Using immunohistochemical SP method the expression levels of the CX-43 and the MMP-9 were detected, and their relationship was investigated. Results There were significant differences in the expression levels of CX-43 and MMP-9 among the control group, the stable plaque group and the unstable plaque group (FCX-43 = 662.971, P < 0.05; FMMP-9 = 397.716, P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression levels of CX-43 and MMP-9 in the atherosclerosis group were significantly increased (P < 0.05).  The expression levels of CX-43 and MMP-9 in the unstable plaque group were significantly higher than those in the stable plaque group (P < 0.05). The result of the correlation research showed that the expression levels of CX-43 and MMP-9 in the atherosclerosis groups were positively correlated ( rstable = 0.640, P < 0.05; runstable = 0.715, P < 0.05), but they had no significant correlation in the control group. Conclusions Up-regulation of CX-43 and MMP-9 protein expressions could promote the formation of atherosclerosis plaques in human femoral artery and cause instability of the plaque tissue.