CX3CR1 Receptor Polymorphisms, Th1 Cell Recruitment, and Acute Myocardial Infarction Outcome: Looking for a Link

Figure 2

Coronary plaques morphology and inflammatory infiltrate characterization in AMI group (a)–(d) and control group (e)–(h). (a) shows an haematoxylin eosin stain of a plaque from AMI group showing a complicated plaque with a large necrotic core, a thin cap, and a high inflammatory infiltrate with a high percentage of lymphocytes, ((b) macrophages CD68 positive, revealed by alkaline phosphatase/anti-alkaline phosphatase, red reaction, and T lymphocytes CD3 positive DAB detected streptavidin/biotin immunoperoxidase, brown reaction). (c) shows the immunostaining against the fractalkine receptor CX3CR1 that gave rise to a strong diffuse positive reaction in the T cells of AMI group. (d), (in the insert a particular corresponding to the area indicated by the arrow, magnification: 40x) demonstrate a positive reaction for fractalkine in the endothelial cells. (e) shows an haematoxylin eosin of a coronary from a patient died by bronchopneumonia without clinical cardiac history. The plaque shows a thick fibrotic cap, and the inflammatory infiltrate is scanty and predominantly constituted by macrophages ((f) macrophages CD68 positive, revealed by alkaline phosphatase/anti-alkaline phosphatase, red reaction, and T lymphocytes CD3 positive DAB dectected streptavidin/biotin immunoperoxidase, brown reaction). The immunostaining for the fractalkine receptor CX3CR1 gave rise to a weak positive reaction in the smooth muscle cells and macrophages ((g) 10x magnification). The reaction for fractalkine was negative in the control group (h) (in the insert a particular, corresponding to the area indicated by the arrow, magnification 40x).