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Flow Cytometry Analysis of Immune Cells Within Murine Aortas
Published on: July 1, 2011
Associations of four circulating chemokines with multiple atherosclerosis phenotypes in a large population-based
Leticia Castillo1, Anand Rohatgi, Colby R Ayers
1Donald W. Reynolds Cardiovascular Research Center and Division of Cardiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, Texas, USA.
Insights
Chemokine CCL23 is a novel biomarker for coronary artery atherosclerosis. Elevated CCL23 levels independently associate with coronary artery calcification, suggesting its potential role in vascular inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Immunology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Vascular inflammation is a key factor in atherosclerosis.
- Specific chemokines, such as CXCL1 and CCL11, have been implicated, but others like CXCL2 and CCL23 remain understudied.
- Chemokines may serve as valuable biomarkers for detecting atherosclerosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association of plasma chemokines (CCL11, CCL23, CXCL1, CXCL2) with markers of subclinical atherosclerosis.
- To determine if CCL23, a novel chemokine, is associated with coronary artery calcification (CAC) and aortic characteristics.
- To explore the potential of chemokines as biomarkers for atherosclerosis detection.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of plasma samples from 2,454 participants in the Dallas Heart Study.
- Measurement of CCL11, CCL23, CXCL1, and CXCL2 levels.
- Association analysis with coronary artery calcium (CAC) via CT and aortic imaging (wall thickness, plaque, compliance) via MRI.
- Adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
Main Results:
- Elevated CCL23 and CXCL1 levels were associated with CAC in univariable analyses.
- After multivariable adjustment, CCL23 remained independently associated with CAC (OR 1.3, P=0.02).
- CCL23 also showed associations with aortic wall thickness, plaque, and compliance, though these were attenuated after adjustment.
Conclusions:
- The chemokine CCL23 is independently associated with coronary atherosclerosis.
- CCL23 represents a novel potential biomarker for atherosclerosis that warrants further investigation.
- This study highlights the role of specific chemokines in vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis development.
Abstract:
Specific chemokines contribute to vascular inflammation and may be useful biomarkers to detect atherosclerosis. The chemokines CXCL1 and CCL11 have previously been studied in animal or human models of atherosclerosis, while CXCL2 and CCL23 have not. Among 2,454 subjects enrolled in the Dallas Heart Study, a multi-ethnic population-based sample, we measured plasma CCL11, CCL23, CXCL1, and CXCL2, and associated levels with coronary artery calcium (CAC) by computed tomography, and aortic wall thickness, plaque burden, and compliance by magnetic resonance imaging. Elevated chemokine levels were defined as greater than or equal to the median for CCL11 and CCL23 and greater than or equal to the upper detection limit for CXCL1 and CXCL2. Elevated CCL23 (P < 0.01) and CXCL1 (P = 0.01), but not CCL11 and CXCL2, associated with CAC in univariable analyses. After adjustment for traditional risk factors, elevated CCL23 remained associated with CAC (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.7; P = 0.02), while the association with CXCL1 was modestly attenuated (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.0-2.1; P = 0.06). CCL23 also associated with aortic wall thickness, plaque, and compliance in univariable analyses (P < 0.05 for each), but these associations were attenuated after multivariable adjustment. The novel chemotactic protein, CCL23, which has not been previously studied in atherosclerosis, is independently associated with coronary atherosclerosis, suggesting that this chemokine merits further study in animal and human models.
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