Systemic inflammation increases mast cell numbers in coronary arteries in patients who died from myocardial infarction

Figures

• 

  Fig. 1. Infarcted area, stenosis and stability per group. A: Infarcted area as a percentage of the left ventricle divided by total area of the left ventricle. Samples consist of myocardial cross sections. Early AMI: N = 10, early AMI + AI: N = 5, Late AMI: N = 5 and Late AMI + AI: N = 10. Values were calculated via Kruskal-Wallis testing. Error bars represent mean and standard deviation, significant p-values (p < 0.05) are shown above the columns. B: Stenosis expressed as percentage of the surface area of the lumen divided by the surface area of the intima ending at the internal elastic lamina. Samples consist of atherosclerotic plaque cross sections. Percentage of stenosis of total lumen size: Early AMI: n = 103, early AMI + AI: n = 22, late AMI: n = 37 and late AMI + AI: n = 73. Values were calculated via Kruskal-Wallis testing. Error bars represent mean and standard deviation, significant p-values (p < 0.05) are shown above the columns. C: Percentages of unstable plaques and stable plaques. Percentages are given on the Y-axis, as well as an absolute number of plaques inside of the bar diagram. Samples consist of atherosclerotic plaque cross sections: Early AMI: n = 120, early AMI +…

• 

  Fig. 2. CD45+ leukocyte density per group. CD45 positive area of the total size of either the intima, media or adventitia of the coronary arteries. Samples consist of atherosclerotic plaque cross sections. A: Percentage of CD45 positive area of the total intima size: Early AMI: n = 89, early AMI + AI: n = 20, late AMI: n = 32 and late AMI + AI: n = 62. Values were calculated via ordinary one-way ANOVA testing. B: Percentage of CD45 positive area of the total media size: Early AMI: n = 86, early AMI + AI: n = 17, late AMI: n = 31 and late AMI + AI: n = 61. Values were calculated via Kruskal-Wallis testing. C: Percentage of CD45 positive area of the total adventitia size: Early AMI: n = 95, early AMI + AI: n = 19, late AMI: n = 36 and late AMI + AI: n = 66. Values were calculated via Kruskal-Wallis testing. D: CD45 staining for leukocytes (brown colourization, arrow points to an example of positive staining) for all patient groups, with higher magnification of the intima, media and adventitia. If multiple layers are present in the higher magnification photograph, a dotted line divides the layers and an “I” (Intima), “M” (Media) or “A” (Adventitia) denotes the area of interest All samples…

• 

  Fig. 3. CD68+ macrophage density per group. A: Percentage of CD68 positive area of the total size of the intima. Samples consist of atherosclerotic plaque cross sections: Early AMI: n = 106, early AMI + AI: n = 23, late AMI: n = 39 and late AMI + AI: n = 76. Values were calculated via Kruskal-Wallis testing. B: CD68 staining for macrophages (brown colourization, arrow points to an example of positive staining) for all patient groups, with higher magnification of the intima, media and adventitia. All samples are independent and were processed once. All graphs values were calculated via Kruskal-Wallis testing. Error bars represent mean and standard deviation, significant p-values (p < 0.05) are shown above the columns. (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.)

• 

  Fig. 4. MPO+ neutrophil density per group. MPO+ neutrophils/mm2 in either the intima, media or adventitia of the coronary arteries. Samples consist of atherosclerotic plaque cross sections. A: Density in mm2 of MPO+ neutrophils in the total intima area: Early AMI: n = 98, early AMI + AI: n = 23, late AMI: n = 36 and late AMI + AI: n = 68. B: Density in mm2 of MPO+ neutrophils in the total media area: Early AMI: n = 94, early AMI + AI: n = 22, late AMI: n = 33 and late AMI + AI: n = 69. C: Density in mm2 of MPO+ neutrophils in the total adventitia area: Early AMI: n = 95, early AMI + AI: n = 22, late AMI: n = 36 and late AMI + AI: n = 72. D: MPO staining for neutrophils (brown colourization, arrow points to an example of positive staining) for all patient groups, with higher magnification of the intima, media and adventitia. If multiple layers are present in the higher magnification photograph, a dotted line divides the layers and an “I” (Intima), “M” (Media) or “A” (Adventitia) denotes the area of interest. All samples are independent and were processed once. All graphs values were calculated via Kruskal-Wallis testing. Error bars represent mean and standard deviation, significant…

• 

  Fig. 5. Tryptase + mast cell density per group. Tryptase+ mast cells/mm2 in either the intima, media or adventitia of the coronary arteries. Samples consist of atherosclerotic plaque cross sections. A: Density in mm2 of tryptase+ mast cells in the total intima area: Early AMI: n = 104, early AMI + AI: n = 23, late AMI: n = 37 and late AMI + AI: n = 74. Values were calculated via Kruskal-Wallis testing. B: Density in mm2 of tryptase+ mast cells in the total media area: Early AMI: n = 104, Early AMI + AI: n = 23, late AMI: n = 37 and late AMI + AI: n = 74. Values were calculated via Kruskal-Wallis testing. C: Density in mm2 of tryptase+ mast cells in the total adventitia area: Early AMI: n = 104, early AMI + AI: n = 23, late AMI: n = 37 and late AMI + AI: n = 74. Values were calculated via Kruskal-Wallis testing. D: MPO staining for neutrophils (brown colourization, arrow points to an example of positive staining) for all patient groups, with higher magnification of the intima, media and adventitia. If multiple layers are present in the higher magnification photograph, a dotted line divides the layers and an “I” (Intima), “M” (Media) or “A” (Adventitia) denotes the area of interest All…