ADAMTS-7 is associated with a high-risk plaque phenotype in human atherosclerosis

Figures

• 

  Figure 1. ADAMTS-7 is increased in symptomatic and vulnerable lesions. ADAMTS-7 (% of plaque area stained) is increased in carotid lesions removed by endarterectomy from symptomatic patients compared to lesions from asymptomatic patients (a). ADAMTS-7 is increased in lesions with a high vulnerability index (above median) (b). Vulnerability index was calculated based on lipid-, CD68-, hemorrhage-, SMC-, and collagen-staining (% of plaque areas stained). Values are presented as boxplots. Number of plaques = 206; Mann-Whitney test.

• 

  Figure 2. ADAMTS-7 is localized to areas staining positive for CD68 and lipids in human advanced carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Representative images are shown for staining of ADAMTS-7, lipids (Oil Red O, ORO), CD68, SMCs (SM α–actin) in four different atherosclerotic plaques (a–d). Examples of regions positive for ADAMTS-7, lipids, and CD68-staining are boxed. Scale bar: 1000 μm.

• 

  Figure 3. Localization of ADAMTS-7 in human carotid plaques. The presence of ADAMTS-7 (% of plaques stained) in different regions of the plaque were analysed (a). Representative images are shown for staining of ADAMTS-7 in shoulder regions (b–c), and in the core (d) of the plaques. Scale bars: 500 μm. p < 0.0001 (cap region compared to all of the other regions); Chi-square test.

• 

  Figure 4. ADAMTS-7 co-stainings with CD68 (a), SMC α-actin (b), and CD31 (c). Human carotid plaque stained for ADAMTS-7 (green) and CD68 (a), SMC a-actin (b) or CD31 (c) (red), DAPI (blue) and merged together. Control sections are stained with isotype controls, DAPI, and merged. Scale bars: 10 µm.

• 

  Figure 5. Association between ADAMTS-7 (% of plaque area stained) in lesions and risk of a future CV event. Kaplan-Meier curves illustrating risk for postoperative CV events (a), CV deaths (b) and all causes deaths (c) across ADAMTS-7 above or below the median.

• 

  Figure 6. SNP rs7177699 in the ADAMTS-7 locus is associated with increased risk for a future CV death. Kaplan-Meier curves illustrating risk for postoperative CV events (a), CV deaths (b) and all causes deaths (c) across ADAMTS-7 genotypes in SNP rs7177699.