Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 29, 2026
Coronary Progenitor Cells and Soluble Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Prognosis after Coronary Angioplasty
Published on: January 28, 2020
Increased expression of monocyte CD11a and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 in patients with initial atherosclerotic
Akira Kawamura1, Shin-ichiro Miura, Takahiro Murayama
1Department of Cardiology, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, Japan.
Insights
Increased expression of monocyte CD11a and ICAM-1 is linked to initial coronary artery disease (CAD) development, but not re-stenosis. Leukocyte adhesion molecule levels were evaluated in CAD and hemodialysis patients.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Cell adhesion molecules mediate leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions, crucial in atherosclerosis.
- Atherosclerosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in coronary artery disease (CAD) and hemodialysis (HD) patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate leukocyte adhesion molecule expression in patients with CAD and those undergoing HD.
- To investigate the role of specific adhesion molecules in the development of coronary stenosis.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry was used to measure surface expression of CD11a, CD18, ICAM-1, VLA-4 alpha, and L-selectin on leukocytes.
- Patient groups included initial CAD, restenosis (RESTE), hemodialysis (HD), and healthy controls (CONT).
Main Results:
- Monocyte CD11a and ICAM-1 expression were significantly higher in the CAD group compared to controls.
- Monocyte CD11a and ICAM-1 levels in the RESTE group were comparable to controls.
- Monocyte L-selectin was increased in the CAD group, while no significant differences in other molecules were found between HD and CONT groups.
Conclusions:
- Elevated CD11a and ICAM-1 expression on monocytes may contribute to initial atherosclerotic coronary stenosis.
- These adhesion molecules do not appear to play a role in the development of coronary re-stenosis.
Background:
Cell adhesion molecules have been implicated in the adhesion of leukocytes to endothelial cells and therefore play a role in atherosclerosis, which is a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) or undergoing hemodialysis (HD). The levels of expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules were evaluated in patients with CAD or HD.
Methods And Results:
The expression of leukocyte (ie, neutrophil, monocyte and lymphocyte) surface CD11a, CD18, intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), very late antigen-4 alpha (VLA-4 alpha) and L-selectin was investigated by flow cytometry in 20 patients who were initially diagnosed with CAD (CAD group), 15 patients with coronary re-stenosed vessels (RESTE group), 20 undergoing HD (HD group) and 20 without CAD (CONT group). Monocyte surface expression of both CD11a and ICAM-1 in the CAD group was significantly higher than in the CONT group. Interestingly, when 15 patients with RESTE were analyzed, they showed monocyte CD11a and ICAM-1 expression levels comparable to those in the CONT group. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in the expression of CD11a, CD18, L-selectin or VLA-4 alpha between the HD group and CONT group, but monocyte L-selectin was increased in the CAD group compared with the CONT group.
Conclusions:
Because CD11a and CD18 are expressed on the cell surface as a heterodimer and ICAM-1 is a ligand for CD11a/CD18, this increased expression of CD11a and ICAM-1 may affect the development of initial atherosclerotic coronary stenosis, but not re-stenosis.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology
01:30Atherosclerosis I: Introduction
01:38Inflammation
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
01:30Acute Coronary Syndrome I: Introduction
01:27Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests