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Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Quantitative Analysis of Cellular Composition in Advanced Atherosclerotic Lesions of Smooth Muscle Cell Lineage-Tracing Mice
Published on: February 20, 2019
Identification of active tissue factor in human coronary atheroma
J D Marmur1, S V Thiruvikraman, B S Fyfe
1Cardiovascular Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA. jmarmur@smtplink.mssm.edu
Tissue factor (TF) is present in most atherosclerotic lesions, contributing to procoagulant activity and coronary thrombosis. Lower TF expression in restenotic lesions may reduce complications, suggesting TF inhibition as a therapeutic target.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Thrombosis Research
- Atherosclerosis Pathogenesis
Background:
- Thrombosis in vivo is increasingly linked to the tissue factor (TF) pathway.
- The TF activity within human coronary atheroma has remained largely unreported.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify tissue factor (TF) activity and expression in human coronary atheroma.
- To investigate the association between TF and thrombus formation in atherosclerotic lesions.
- To explore TF expression differences in de novo versus restenotic lesions.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative TF-specific activity assay on directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) specimens.
- Immunohistochemistry using a polyclonal anti-human TF antibody to detect TF antigen.
- Histological analysis to identify plaque thrombus and assess TF expression in de novo and restenotic lesions.
Main Results:
- Median TF content was 10 ng/g plaque, with detectable TF activity in 90% of lesions.
- TF antigen was found in 86% of lesions, present in both cellular and acellular plaque areas.
- Histologically defined thrombus was significantly associated with detectable TF antigen (19/43 lesions; P < .02).
- TF antigen was less frequently detected in restenotic lesions (31%) compared to de novo lesions (8%; P < .05).
Conclusions:
- TF contributes significantly to the procoagulant activity of atherosclerotic lesions.
- The presence of TF is linked to plaque thrombus, suggesting a role in coronary thrombosis.
- Reduced TF expression in restenotic lesions may explain lower complication rates, highlighting TF inhibition as a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing thrombotic complications during percutaneous coronary interventions.
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