Atherosclerosis is characterized by chronic inflammation and the presence of oxidized materials, including extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, within the artery wall.
Here we report the identification of isoDGR motifs in human atherosclerotic plaque components including extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins fibronectin and tenascin C, which have been strongly implicated in human atherosclerosis.
Moreover, for the first time, we demonstrated that the 807T/837T/873A allele of platelet glycoprotein Ia may confer an additional risk for development of peripheral atherosclerosis in premature peripheral arterial occlusive disease.
Fibronectin (FN) is one of the earliest ECM proteins deposited at atherosclerosis-prone sites and was suggested to promote atherosclerotic lesion formation.