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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
Coronary Progenitor Cells and Soluble Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Prognosis after Coronary Angioplasty
Published on: January 28, 2020
[Soluble CD40 ligand: a potential marker of cardiovascular risk]
A San Miguel Hernández1, L Inglada-Galiana, R García Iglesias
1Servicio de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Río Hortega, Valladolid, España.
Insights
Soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and its receptor CD40 are overexpressed in atherosclerotic lesions, increasing mediators that drive atherosclerosis and thrombosis. These molecules are key players in the immunoinflammatory system
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Vascular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Atherosclerosis pathogenesis involves immunoinflammatory processes.
- Current prognostic evaluation of atherosclerotic plaque is limited.
- Biomarkers like CD40 and interleukins are crucial for assessing vulnerability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and its receptor CD40 in atherosclerosis.
- To understand their contribution to inflammatory processes and thrombotic complications.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of recombinant human soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) structure and expression.
- Examination of sCD40L and CD40 expression in experimental and human atherosclerotic lesions.
Main Results:
- Soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) is a 16.3 kD glycoprotein with a TNF-like domain.
- sCD40L is expressed on antigen-presenting cells, linking inflammation and thrombosis.
- Both sCD40L and CD40 are overexpressed in atherosclerotic lesions, increasing atherogenic mediators.
Conclusions:
- Soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and CD40 significantly contribute to the inflammatory processes underlying atherosclerosis.
- Their overexpression exacerbates the development of atherosclerosis and thrombosis.
- Targeting sCD40L and CD40 may offer future therapeutic strategies for atherosclerotic disease.
Abstract:
Recombinant human soluble CD40 ligand, also named CD145 or gp 39, is a 16.3 kD glycoprotein containing 149 aa residues comprising the receptor binding TNF-like domain of CD40 ligand. It is expressed on antigen-presenting cells such as B cells, macrophages, dendritic cells and thymic epithelial cells and it constitutes the nexus between the inflammatory system and the vascular thrombotic processes. Its gene is located in the long arm of the human X chromosome. Prognostic evaluation of the residual fixed atherosclerotic plaque is insufficient to predict clinical course. Currently, studies have been done that demonstrate the participation of the immunoinflammatory system in the genesis and complications of the atherosclerotic condition. In the future, the most specific biomarkers of vulnerability will be very useful in the daily practice (interleukins, CD40, etc.). The soluble CD40 ligand together with its CD40 receptor are overexpressed in experimental and human atherosclerotic lesions. This leads to an increase of mediators for the development of atherosclerosis. Both significantly contribute to the inflammatory processes that leads to atherosclerosis and thrombosis.
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