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Updated: Aug 24, 2026

Coronary Progenitor Cells and Soluble Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Prognosis after Coronary Angioplasty
Published on: January 28, 2020
[Comparative study of T cell proliferative response in different types of coronary heart diseases]
Hua Zheng1, Sai-zhu Wu, Wen-yan Lai
1Department of Cardiology, Nanfang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
Insights
T cell proliferation, particularly in response to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), is heightened in acute coronary syndromes, indicating a role for cellular immunity in plaque instability.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cardiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Coronary heart disease (CHD) involves plaque instability.
- The role of cellular immunity in CHD pathogenesis is under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between T cell proliferative responses and coronary plaque stability.
- To investigate T cell reactivity to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) in different CHD patient groups.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 66 subjects: 13 acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 22 unstable angina pectoris (UAP), 15 stable angina pectoris (SAP), and 16 controls.
- Assessed T cell proliferation to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), oxLDL, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) using MTS/PMS assay.
Main Results:
- T cell responses to PHA and oxLDL were significantly stronger in AMI and UAP groups compared to SAP and control groups.
- T cell proliferation to oxLDL was significantly greater than to LDL in AMI and UAP patients.
Conclusions:
- T cell-mediated immunity, especially the response to oxLDL, is implicated in plaque instability.
- Immune responses to oxLDL may contribute to the development of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
Objective:
To investigate the association between proliferative response of T cells and plaque stability in coronary heart disease.
Methods:
A total of 66 subjects were recruited in the study, including 13 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 22 with unstable angina pectoris (UAP), 15 with stable angina pectoris (SAP) and 16 control subjects without coronary heart disease. The proliferative response of T cells to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was examined by MTS/PMS colorimetric assay.
Results:
Significantly stronger proliferative response of T cells to PHA was noted in AMI and UAP groups than in SAP and control groups (P<0.05), as with the response to oxLDL (at doses of 5 and 1 microg/ml, P<0.05). T cell proliferative response to oxLDL (at the doses of 10, 5 and 1 microg/ml) appeared significantly stronger than that to LDL (at the same dose as oxLDL) in AMI group and UAP group (P<0.05).
Conclusion:
Cellular immunity mediated by T cells, especially the immune response to oxLDL, may play an important role in the instability of plaque and the occurrence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

