Independent and joint effects of antibodies to human heat-shock protein 60 and Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in the...

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Cardiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Coronary artery disease (CAD) is linked to antibodies against heat-shock proteins (HSPs), Chlamydia pneumoniae (CPN), and cytomegalovirus (CMV).
• The specific roles of human (h) HSP60 antibodies and these pathogens in CAD require further clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the independent and joint effects of antibodies to hHSP60 and CPN on the risk of CAD.
• To determine if these associations are independent of traditional CAD risk factors.

Main Methods:

• Serum antibodies to hHSP60, CPN, and CMV immediate-early-1 (IE1) antigens were measured in 405 subjects (276 with CAD, 129 controls).
• Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between antibody levels and CAD, adjusting for age, sex, smoking, and lipid levels.

Main Results:

• CAD patients showed significantly elevated antibodies to hHSP60 and CPN, but not CMV-IE1.
• These associations remained significant after adjusting for age, sex, smoking, and serum lipid levels.
• Subjects with high antibody levels to both hHSP60 and CPN had a substantially increased odds ratio (82.0) for CAD.

Conclusions:

• High levels of antibodies to hHSP60 and CPN are independent risk factors for coronary atherosclerosis.
• The simultaneous presence of high antibody levels to both hHSP60 and CPN significantly amplifies the risk of CAD development.