Abstract: Objective To investigate the expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 （MCP-1） and its receptor CC chemokine receptor-2 （CCR-2） in coronary atherosclerosis plaques between sudden coronary death （SCD） and non-SCD. Methods The expression levels of MCP-1 and CCR-2 in SCD group, coronary atherosclerosis group （non-SCD）, control group （normal coronary artery） were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results Positive rates of MCP-1 among the three groups were 78%, 47%, and 0%, respectively, with significant expressing differences between each two groups （P＜0.05）. Positive rates of CCR-2 among three groups were 72%, 47%, and 0%, respectively, with significant expressing differences between the SCD group and coronary atherosclerosis group as well as between the SCD group and control group （P<0.05）, but with no significant expressing difference between coronary atherosclerosis group and control group （P>0.05）. Conclusion Overexpression of MCP-1 and CCR-2 in coronary atherosclerotic plaques is closely correlated with SCD.

Key words: forensic pathology, death, sudden, cardiac, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, CC chemokine protein receptor-2