Exploring the role of extracellular matrix proteins to develop biomarkers of plaque vulnerability and outcome

作者：Signe Holm Nielsen, Lena Jonasson, Konstantinos Kalogeropoulos, M.A. Karsdal, Alexander Lynge Reese‐Petersen, Ulrich auf dem Keller, Federica Genovese, Jan Nilsson, Isabel Gonçalves · 发表于：Journal of Internal Medicine · 年份：2020 · DOI：10.1111/joim.13034 · 被引用次数：88 · 研究领域：Protease and Inhibitor Mechanisms、Cell Adhesion Molecules Research、Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of death in industrialized countries. One underlying cause is atherosclerosis, which is a systemic disease characterized by plaques of retained lipids, inflammatory cells, apoptotic cells, calcium and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in the arterial wall. The biologic composition of an atherosclerotic plaque determines whether the plaque is more or less vulnerable, that is prone to rupture or erosion. Here, the ECM and tissue repair play an important role in plaque stability, vulnerability and progression. This review will focus on ECM remodelling in atherosclerotic plaques, with focus on how ECM biomarkers might predict plaque vulnerability and outcome.