posted on 2023-07-26, 13:42authored byJoanna-Marie Howes, Nicholas Pugh, Vera Knäuper, Richard W. Farndale
Atherothrombosis underlies acute coronary syndromes, including unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction. Within the unstable plaque, monocytes express collagenolytic matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) including MMP-13 which degrades fibrous collagen. Following rupture, vessel wall components including degraded collagen are exposed to circulating platelets. Platelet receptors then mediate the recruitment and activation of platelets to form a thrombus, blocking blood flow and resulting in myocardial infarction and sudden death.