plaque

Examples of plaque in the following topics:

• Desmosomes

  • On the cytoplasmic side of the plasma membrane, there are two dense structures called the Outer Dense Plaque (ODP) and the Inner Dense Plaque (IDP).
  • The Outer Dense Plaque is where the cytoplasmic domains of the cadherins attach to desmoplakin via plakoglobin and plakophillin.
  • The Inner Dense Plaque is where desmoplakin attaches to the keratin filaments inside the cell.

• Periodontal Disease

  • Plaque-induced inflammatory lesions make up the vast majority of periodontal diseases, which are divided into peridontitis or gingivitis.
  • The primary cause of gingivitis is poor oral hygiene which leads to the accumulation of bacterial matrix at the gum line, called dental plaque.
  • If left undisturbed, microbic plaque calcifies to form calculus, which is commonly called tartar.
  • Although the primary cause of both gingivitis and periodontitis is the microbic plaque that adheres to the tooth surface, there are many other modifying factors.
  • Brushing teeth properly at least twice daily, with the patient attempting to direct the toothbrush bristles underneath the gum-line, to help disrupt the bacterial-mycotic growth and formation of subgingival plaque.

• Psoriasis

  • The most common form, plaque psoriasis, is commonly seen as red and white colored scaly patches appearing on the top first layer of the skin.
  • Plaques frequently occur on the skin of the elbows and knees, but can affect any area, including the back, scalp, palms of hands and soles of feet, and genitals.
  • Plaques on hands and feet can prevent individuals from working at certain occupations, playing some sports, and caring for family members or a home.

• Hemidesmosomes

  • The HD comprises two rivet-like plaques (the inner and outer plaques).
  • An example configuration of a hemidesmosome might consist of cytosolic keratin, non-covalently bonded to a cytosolic plectin plaque, which is bonded to a single-pass transmembrane adhesion molecule such as the α6β4 integrin.
  • Thin, extracellular, electron-dense lines, parallel to the plasma membrane, subjacent to the outer plaque are visible in one third of HDs and are termed sub-basal dense plates (SBDPs).

• Carotid Sinus Syncope and Massage

  • The carotid sinus often has atherosclerotic plaques.
  • If these plaques are large and unstable, they predispose a patient to ischemic strokes.

• Coronary Artery Disease

  • Coronary artery disease (CAD) describes the accumulation of atheromatous or fatty plaques within the walls of the coronary arteries.
  • Coronary artery disease (CAD; also atherosclerotic heart disease) is the result of the accumulation of atheromatous plaques within the walls of the coronary arteries that supply the myocardium (the muscle of the heart) with oxygen and nutrients.
  • After decades of progression, some of these atheromatous plaques may rupture and (along with the activation of the blood clotting system) start limiting blood flow to the heart muscle.

• Asbestos-Related Diseases

  • Asbestosis specifically refers to interstitial (parenchymal) fibrosis from asbestos, and not pleural fibrosis or plaquing as can be seen in Figure 2 in the staining of lung tissue from a patient with asbestosis.
  • According to the American Thoracic Society (ATS), the general diagnostic criteria for asbestosis are: evidence of structural pathology consistent with asbestosis as documented by imaging or histology, evidence of causation by asbestos as documented by the occupational and environmental history, markers of exposure (usually pleural plaques), recovery of asbestos bodies, or other means and exclusion of alternative plausible causes for the findings.

• Transient Ischemic Attacks

  • This usually arises from a dislodged atherosclerotic plaque in one of the carotid arteries or from a thrombus (i.e. a blood clot) in the heart because of atrial fibrillation .
  • Other reasons include excessive narrowing of large vessels resulting from an atherosclerotic plaque and increased blood viscosity caused by some blood diseases.
  • Cutting down on fats and cholesterol to help reduce plaque build up

• Myocardial Ischemia and Infarction

  • Atherosclerosis is the thickening of the artery wall as a result of plaque formation, which is the accumulation of fatty materials such as cholesterol.
  • When these plaques weaken, they can develops a tear, which forms blood clot that obstructs blood flow, causing a myocardial infarction.
  • In coronary artery disease, these atherosclerotic plaques build up in the coronary arteries and rupture may lead to ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction.

• Alzheimer's Disease

  • Further evidence comes from the finding that transgenic mice that express a mutant form of the human APP gene develop fibrillar amyloid plaques and Alzheimer's-like brain pathology with spatial learning deficits .
  • Enzymes act on the APP (Amyloid precursor protein) and cut it into fragments of protein, one of which is called beta-amyloid and its crucial in the formation of senile plaques in AD