Elevated Hepcidin Expression in Human Carotid Atheroma: Sex-Specific Differences and Associations with Plaque Vulnerability.

ABSTRACT: Hepcidin is upregulated by increased body iron stores and inflammatory cytokines. It is associated with cardiovascular events, arterial stiffness, and increased iron accumulation in human atheroma with hemorrhage. However, it is unknown whether the expression of hepcidin in human carotid plaques is related to plaque severity and whether hepcidin expression differs between men and women. Carotid samples from 58 patients (38 males and 20 females) were immunostained with hepcidin, macrophages, ferritin, and transferrin receptor. Immunocytochemistry of hepcidin was performed on THP-1 macrophages exposed to iron or 7betahydroxycholesterol. Hepcidin expression significantly increases with the progression of human atherosclerotic plaques. Plaques of male patients have significantly higher levels

SUBMITTER: Yuan XM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10855936 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature