Correlative expression of P-selectin and IL-18 in human coronary atherosclerosis plaque

AIM: To evaluate the expression level and the relationship of P-selectin (CD62P) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) in human coronary atherosclerosis so as to provide theoretical evidence for clinical prevention and treatment of plaques. METHODS: Sixty five autopsy paraffin samples with coronary atherosclerosis were selected. The expression level of CD62P and IL-18 in the plaque of human coronary atherosclerosis was measured by immunohistochemical technique and image processing system. Data were analyzed statistically with SPSS v.13.0 software (SPSS, Chicago, IL). RESULTS: CD62P was expressed in vascular endothelial cell membrane. In coronary atherosclerosis plaques, the number of macrophages and the expression level of IL-18 changed consistently with the expression level of CD62P. A positive correlation was found between the expression of IL-18 and CD62P in the plaques (r=0.81, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The expression levels of IL-18 and CD62P are correlated in human coronary atherosclerosis plaques.