Toll-like receptor 4 expression in the coronary atherosclerotic plaques of patients died from sudden cardiac death / 中华心血管病杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression in the coronary atherosclerotic plaques in patients died from sudden cardiac death (SCD) or non SCD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Autopsied coronary artery samples from 75 patients died from SCD (n = 28), non-SCD (n = 28) or non-CHD (n = 19) were examined and the R value (positive cells' areas/scanning areas) and A value (average optical density) of TLR4 expression in the coronary arteries were detected qualitatively by the immunohistochemistry (SABC method) and image analysis technologies.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>SCD group 13 (46.4%) cases showed strong positive expression of TLR4; 11 (39.3%), positive expression; 4 (14.3%), weak positive expression. CHD group 8 (28.6%) cases showed weak positive expression; 17 (60.7%), very weak positive expression; 3 (10.7%), no positive expression. There was no positive expression of TLR4 in non-CHD samples. A (1.140 +/- 0.101) and R value (0.0269 +/- 0.0027) in SCD group were significantly higher than in non-SCD and control groups (all P < 0.01). A value was siginificantly higher in CHD group (0.719 +/- 0.205) than that in control group (0.481 +/- 0.033, P < 0.05) while R value (0.0085 +/- 0.0007, 0.0046 +/- 0.0004) was similar between the groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The increased positive expressive of TLR4 in the atherosclerotic plaque can be regarded as an important pathological marker of SCD.</p>