Podoplanin expression on endothelial cells promotes superficial erosive injury and thrombus formation in rat carotid artery: Implications for plaque erosion

Atherosclerotic plaque erosion, a morphological pattern of plaque disruption, is characterized by a denuded plaque surface and thrombus formation, and defined by the lack of disruption of the fibrous cap and exposure of necrotic core. The morphologic characteristics include an abundance of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and proteoglycan matrix and disruption of surface endothelium. Plaque erosion contains relatively few inflammatory cells compared with plaque rupture [1]. Although many mechanisms including disturbed blood flow, toll-like receptor signaling, leukocyte activation and modification of sub-endothelial matrix have been proposed, the precise mechanisms of plaque erosion and subsequent thrombus growth still remain unclear [2,3].

Source: Thrombosis Research - October 19, 2019 Category: Hematology Authors: Eiji Furukoji, Atsushi Yamashita, Kensuke Nakamura, Toshinori Hirai, Yujiro Asada Tags: Letter to the Editors-in-Chief Source Type: research