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Trans-vessel gradient of myeloperoxidase in coronary artery disease
Arash Alipour1, Josep Ribalta, Tjin L Njo
1Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Diabetes and Vascular Medicine, St. Franciscus Gasthuis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. a.alipour78@gmail.com
Insights
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is linked to increased inflammation, particularly in neutrophils. This study found a gradient of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in neutrophils from peripheral vessels to coronary arteries, higher in CAD patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) may be associated with systemic inflammation.
- Leukocyte activation is a potential indicator of vascular disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate leukocyte activation in different vascular compartments in patients with and without CAD.
- To investigate the role of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and other activation markers in CAD.
Main Methods:
- Coronary angiography was used to classify 52 patients with stable CAD and 25 controls.
- Blood samples were collected from various vessels (venous, femoral, abdominal, coronary).
- Leukocyte activation markers (CD11b, CD66b, MPO) were measured using flow cytometry.
Main Results:
- Myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels were significantly higher in CAD patients compared to controls across all measured vascular sites.
- A gradient of MPO was observed, with levels increasing from peripheral to coronary vessels in both groups.
- Other leukocyte activation markers (CD11b, CD66b) did not show significant differences between groups or a similar gradient.
Conclusions:
- A generalized inflammatory gradient of MPO in neutrophils exists from peripheral to coronary vessels in both healthy individuals and CAD patients.
- CAD patients exhibit a heightened inflammatory response, particularly within the coronary vasculature.
- These findings support the involvement of activated neutrophils in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease.
Background:
Coronary artery disease (CAD) may reflect generalized inflammation. We evaluated leucocyte activation in subjects with and without CAD in different vascular compartments.
Materials And Methods:
Patients were divided in two groups; subjects without CAD (controls; n = 25) and with stable CAD (n = 52) based on coronary angiography. After blood sampling from vessels, cardiovascular risk factors and leucocyte activation markers CD11b, CD66b and cytoplasmatic myeloperoxidase (MPO) were determined by flow cytometry.
Results:
Myeloperoxidase (MPO) was higher in patients with CAD at all sites compared with controls (188 ± 7 vs. 210 ± 12 au for venous (P < 0.05), 178 ± 7 vs. 212 ± 12 au for femoral artery (P = 0.08), 166 ± 7 vs. 195 ± 12 au for abdominal artery (P < 0.05), 166 ± 6 vs. 189 ± 14 au for left coronary (P = 0.08) and 163 ± 6 vs. 193 ± 12 au for the right coronary artery (P < 0.05)). Other markers did not differ between the groups. A gradient of inflammation from peripheral vessels to the coronaries was found by differences in MPO in both groups; from 210 ± 12 au in the venous compartments towards 189 ± 14 and 193 ± 12 au, in the left and right coronaries, respectively, for the controls (P = 0.001), and from 188 ± 7 au in the venous compartment towards 166 ± 6 and 163 ± 6 au in the left and right coronaries, respectively, for the patients (P = 0.007). Other leucocyte activation markers did not show such a gradient.
Conclusions:
There is a generalized inflammatory neutrophil gradient for MPO from peripheral vessels towards the coronaries in both patients with CAD and controls. However, patients with CAD show a higher degree of inflammation, mostly in the coronaries. These data strengthen the role of activated neutrophils in CAD.
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