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Leukocyte counts and concentrations of soluble adhesion molecules as predictors of coronary atherosclerosis
J Ikata1, T Wakatsuki, Y Oishi
1The Second Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Tokushima, Japan. jiro@clin.med.tokushima-u.ac.jp
Insights
Elevated monocyte counts and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) levels are linked to coronary artery disease (CAD). These markers may help identify patients with significant coronary atherosclerosis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Immunology
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Previous research suggests a link between adhesion molecules and atherosclerosis.
- Animal studies indicate an interaction between leukocytes and adhesion molecules in atherosclerotic tissue.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between coronary artery atherosclerosis and blood leukocyte counts.
- To examine concentrations of soluble adhesion molecules in patients with and without coronary artery disease (CAD).
Main Methods:
- 168 patients undergoing coronary angiography were studied.
- Patients were divided into a control group (normal angiograms) and a CAD group (significant stenoses).
- Blood leukocyte counts and levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) were measured.
Main Results:
- Patients with CAD had significantly higher monocyte counts and sICAM-1 concentrations compared to controls.
- No significant difference in sVCAM-1 levels was observed between the groups.
- A higher incidence of coronary stenosis was found in patients with elevated monocyte counts and sICAM-1 levels.
Conclusions:
- Increased monocyte counts and serum sICAM-1 concentrations may serve as indicators for coronary atherosclerosis.
- These findings highlight potential biomarkers for identifying patients at risk for CAD.
Background:
Authors of recent studies have reported that there is a relationship between level of adhesion molecules and atherosclerosis. In an animal study it was demonstrated that there is an interaction between adhesion molecules and leukocytes in atherosclerotic tissue.
Objective:
To study the relationships between coronary-artery atherosclerosis and both differential blood-leukocyte count and concentrations of soluble adhesion molecules in patients with and without coronary artery disease (CAD).
Methods:
Our subjects were 168 patients who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography. Forty-eight patients had normal coronary angiograms (control group), and 120 patients had significant coronary-artery stenoses (diameter stenosis > 70%) in at least one major coronary-artery branch (CAD group). Total and differential blood-leukocyte counts, and concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) were assayed prior to angiography.
Results:
Monocyte counts for patients in the CAD group were significantly greater than those for patients in the control group (366 +/- 99 versus 258 +/- 44/microl, P < 0.0001), as were the sICAM-1 concentrations (272 +/- 52 versus 203 +/- 24 ng/ml, P < 0.0001). The mean concentrations of sVCAM-1 in members of the two groups were the same (671 +/- 138 versus 668 +/- 97 ng/ml, P=0.4). There was a higher incidence of significant coronary-artery stenosis among patients with both a high monocyte count and a high concentration of sICAM-1 (> or = mean + SD) than there was among patients with a low monocyte count and a low concentration of sICAM-1 (> or = mean - SD; 100 versus 25%, P < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
Higher levels both of monocyte counts and of serum concentrations of ICAM-1 may serve as markers for coronary atherosclerosis.