Histological assessment of thrombi aspirated from coronary arteries of patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction.

<p>(A) Hematoxylin and eosin staining shows platelet aggregates (*) intermingled in a fibrin network (°) with red and white blood cells. Original magnification 100x. (B) and (C) Immunohistochemistry of coronary thrombi prepared with anti-TF CD142 antibody showing large and irregular areas of tissue factor staining (brown colour) within platelet aggregates and white blood cells. Some portion of the platelet aggregates stained intensely (*), whereas other lightly (++) with anti-TF CD142 antibody. B: original magnification 200x; C: original magnification 400x. (D) Detail of a coronary thrombus showing tissue factor staining in close contact with platelet aggregates (*). Some areas of these platelet aggregates do not display tissue factor staining (++). Monocyte are strongly positive for tissue factor, granulocytes display a weak and irregular staining, and red cells are negative. Original magnification 400x. (E) Negative control for TF performed with immunoperoxidase staining on sections not incubated with the primary antibody against TF. Magnification 100x. (F) Negative control using an isotype-matched irrelevant primary antibody (mouse IgG anti-epithelial membrane antigen).