Relationship of MMP-14 and TIMP-3 Expression with Macrophage Activation and Human Atherosclerotic Plaque Vulnerability

Table 6

MMP-14 and TIMP-3 expression and plaque characteristics.

Plaque feature	Absent		Present		value
MMP-14 (% of positive foam cell macrophages)
Intraplaque haemorrhage	24 0–64	51	67 28–81	28	0.007
Any thrombus or haemorrhage	11 1–48	24	59 6–81	55	0.026
TIMP-3 (% of positive foam cell macrophages)
Intraplaque haemorrhage	24 8–43	44	11 5–25	24	0.095
Any thrombus or haemorrhage	28 8–77	22	13 5–34	46	0.067

The percentage of MMP-14 and TIMP-3 positive foam cell macrophages (median 95% confidence limits) was compared with semiquantitative plaque features and P values computed with a Kruskal-Wallis test.