Baseline variables in patient groups according to symptomatology (n = 182).

<p>Clinical symptoms include stroke, TIA or amaurosis fugax ipsilateral to the stenotic internal carotid artery. BMI, body mass index. Numbers are given as percentage (numbers), *mean (SD), or **median (min–max). Cholesterol, HDL, LDL and Triglycerides levels were obtained in respectively 122, 110, 109, and 118 patients.</p

Association between plasma levels of MMP-7 and adverse outcome in patients with carotid atherosclerosis.

<p>Panel <b>A</b> shows Kaplan–Meier curve with the cumulative incidence of all-cause mortality during the entire study (mean follow-up 3.5 years) according to dichotomized MMP-7 levels (Cut-off median: 1.96 ng/mL). Panel <b>B</b> shows multi-variable analyses of predictors of all-cause mortality (direct entry). CRP and MMP-7 show expressed per SD change.</p

MMP7 staining in areas with thinner and less organized collagen fibers.

<p>Immunohistochemical staining of MMP7 in human atherosclerotic plaques at 100× magnification <b>A</b> and <b>B.</b> Sirius Red staining of collagen in corresponding sections of human atherosclerotic plaques are shown in <b>C</b> and <b>D</b>. The highlighted sections are from corresponding areas of sequential sections of the same plaques stained with MMP7 and Sirius Red, respectively, at 250× magnification. The arrows indicate area with no positive staining for MMP7 corresponding to areas with more organized and tightly packed collagen fibers.</p

Immunostaining of MMP-7 within atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic vessels.

<p>Immuhistochemistry of MMP-7 in carotid atherosclerotic plaques (n = 8, symptoms within the recent 2 months) shows strong immunostaining. Representative images obtained with 100× <b>A</b> and 400× magnification (highlighted, with arrows on positive cells). Panel <b>B</b> shows no or weak immunostaining of MMP-7 in non-atherosclerotic carotid artery obtained from autopsies (n = 5). Panel <b>C</b> shows double immunofluorescent staining of MMP-7 (green fluorescence), CD68 (macrophages, red fluorescence) and nucleus (DAPI, blue fluorescence) from carotid atherosclerotic plaques (n = 4). The lower right panel is a merge of the three pictures.</p

The regulation of MMP-7 expression in primary monocytes.

<p>Panel <b>A</b> shows the effect of oxLDL (20 µg/ml), TNFα (5 ng/ml) or a combination thereof, panel <b>B</b> shows the effect of hypoxia with or without co-stimulation with oxLDL (20 mg/ml), TNFα (5 ng/ml) or a combination thereof. The cells were cultured for 48 hours before experimental starts and cell pellets were harvested 18 hours thereafter. mRNA levels of MMP-7 were quantified by real-time RT-PCR in relation to the expression of the endogenous control gene β-actin. Data are mean±SEM (n = 6) and are given in relation to cells that received vehicle (Ctr) or were cultured in normoxic condition. *p<0.05 versus Ctr (panel <b>A</b>). ***p<0.001 versus all other conditions (panel <b>B</b>).</p

Plasma levels of MMP-7 in patients with carotid plaques in relation to symptomatology.

<p>The figure shows plasma levels of MMP-7 in patients with carotid atherosclerosis (n = 182) divided into (i) patients with the most recent symptoms (within the last 2 months, n = 73) and (ii) patients with symptoms >2 months ago and asymptomatic patients (>2 months, n = 109). For comparison, MMP-7 levels were also analyzed in 23 healthy controls (CTR). Data are shown as a box and whisker plot with median (Q1, Q3) in the box and the whiskers representing the 5 and 95 percentiles. Note that both groups of patients have significantly raised MMP-7 levels as compared with controls.</p

The expression of MMP-7 within atherosclerotic carotid plaques in relation to plaque symptomatology.

<p>mRNA (<b>A</b>) and protein (<b>B</b>) levels of MMP-7 in atherosclerotic carotid plaques were measured in (i) patients with the most recent symptoms (within the last 2 months, n = 35) and (ii) patients with symptoms >2 months ago and asymptomatic patients (>2 months, n = 29). For comparison, mRNA levels of MMP-7 were also analyzed in non-atherosclerotic vessels (common iliac artery) from 10 organ donors (CTR). mRNA levels were quantified by real-time RT-PCR. The expression of β-actin was used as endogenous control. Protein levels of MMP-7 were measured in plaque lysates by EIA. Data are shown as a box and whisker plot with median (Q1, Q3) in the box and the whiskers representing the 5 and 95 percentile in relation to β -actin expression.</p