Relation of CD39 to plaque instability and thrombus formation in directional atherectomy specimens from patients with stable and unstable angina pectoris.

To determine whether the expression of CD39 in coronary atherosclerotic lesions is related to plaque instability and thrombus formation, we assessed directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) specimens from patients with stable and unstable angina pectoris. CD39 immunoreactivity was decreased in culprit lesions in patients with unstable angina pectoris compared with those with stable angina pectoris, and was reduced in DCA specimens with thrombus formation. These results suggest that CD39 expressed in atheromatous plaque plays an important role in preventing acute coronary syndromes.