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Coronary Progenitor Cells and Soluble Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Prognosis after Coronary Angioplasty
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Published on: January 28, 2020

Association between coronary endothelial dysfunction and local inflammation of atherosclerotic coronary arteries

Taku Matsubara1, Takaharu Ishibashi, Tomoyuki Hori

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Shinrakuen Hospital, Niigata, Japan.

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
|September 6, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Coronary atherosclerosis severity links to local inflammation and reduced nitric oxide (NO) formation, impacting endothelial function. This study reveals correlations between atherosclerosis extent and inflammatory markers like serum amyloid A protein (SAA).

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Inflammation Research
  • Endothelial Function

Background:

  • Coronary atherosclerosis severity and extent may correlate with local inflammation.
  • Endothelial dysfunction, indicated by reduced nitric oxide (NO) formation, is a key factor.
  • Understanding this relationship is crucial for cardiovascular disease management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between coronary atherosclerosis severity/extent and local inflammation.
  • To explore the link between these factors and coronary endothelial dysfunction (reduced NO formation).
  • To analyze the changes in inflammatory markers and nitric oxide metabolites across coronary circulation.

Main Methods:

  • Blood samples collected from aortic root (Ao) and coronary sinus (CS) in 39 patients.
  • Plasma NOx (nitrite + nitrate) measured by HPLC-Griess; C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A protein (SAA) measured by Latex Turbidimetric Immunoassay.
  • Gensini Score (GS) used to evaluate coronary atherosclerosis extent and severity.

Main Results:

  • Gensini Score correlated with percentage changes in NOx (r = -0.35, p < 0.05) and SAA (r = 0.43, p < 0.05) across coronary circulation.
  • No significant correlation found between GS and CRP percentage changes.
  • Percentage changes in NOx correlated with percentage changes in SAA (r = -0.36, p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

  • Severity and extent of coronary atherosclerosis are related to the degree of local inflammation.
  • Local inflammation may be associated with coronary endothelial dysfunction.
  • SAA appears to be a relevant marker in this inflammatory-atherosclerotic relationship.

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