Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 2, 2026

Optical Coherence Tomography Based Biomechanical Fluid-Structure Interaction Analysis of Coronary Atherosclerosis Progression
Published on: January 15, 2022
Association between P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 and pathogenesis in acute coronary syndrome assessed by optical
Yuichi Ozaki1, Toshio Imanishi1, Ikuko Teraguchi1
1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1, Kimiidera, Wakayama 641-8510, Japan.
Insights
P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) on CD14++CD16+ monocytes is elevated in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with plaque rupture and thrombus. This suggests PSGL-1 up-regulation on this monocyte subset is key to ACS progression.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Immunology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Monocytes are heterogeneous and implicated in acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
- The role of specific monocyte subsets in plaque rupture and thrombus formation is unclear.
- P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) is linked to monocyte activation in thrombosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between PSGL-1 expression on monocyte subsets and thrombus formation in ACS patients.
- To determine if PSGL-1 expression differs among monocyte subsets in ACS.
- To correlate PSGL-1 expression with plaque rupture and thrombus presence.
Main Methods:
- 100 individuals studied: ACS patients (AMI, UAP, stable angina) and controls.
- Monocyte subsets (CD14++CD16-, CD14++CD16+, CD14+CD16+) and PSGL-1 expression measured via flow cytometry.
- Frequency-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) used in AMI and UAP patients.
Main Results:
- CD14++CD16+ monocytes showed higher PSGL-1 expression in ACS patients compared to other subsets.
- PSGL-1 expression on CD14++CD16+ monocytes was significantly elevated in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients.
- Higher PSGL-1 levels on CD14++CD16+ monocytes correlated with plaque rupture and intracoronary thrombus.
Conclusions:
- Up-regulation of PSGL-1 on CD14++CD16+ monocytes is associated with plaque rupture and thrombus formation in ACS.
- PSGL-1 on CD14++CD16+ monocytes may play a critical role in ACS pathogenesis.
- This finding highlights a potential therapeutic target for ACS.
Objective:
Although monocytes appear to be actively involved in the onset of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), they are heterogenous in human peripheral blood. How up-regulation of monocyte subsets leads to coronary plaque rupture followed by thrombus formation remains unclear. Recent studies have shown that P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) is involved in monocyte activation in patients with thrombus formation. We therefore investigated the relationship between the expression of PSGL-1 on monocyte subsets and thrombus formation using frequency-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) in patients with ACS.
Methods:
We enrolled a total of 100 individuals in this study: patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI, n=25), unstable angina pectoris (UAP, n=20), or stable angina pectoris (n=35) who underwent coronary angiography, and control subjects (n=20). Three monocyte subsets (CD14++CD16-, CD14++CD16+, and CD14+CD16+) and the expression of PSGL-1 were measured by flow cytometry. In patients with AMI and UAP, FD-OCT was performed before percutaneous coronary intervention.
Results:
Circulating peripheral CD14++CD16+ monocytes expressed PSGL-1 more frequently than CD14++CD16- and CD14+CD16+ monocytes in patients with ACS. The expression of PSGL-1 on circulating peripheral CD14++CD16+ monocytes was significantly elevated in patients with AMI compared with the other 3 groups. Moreover, the expression levels of PSGL-1 on CD14++CD16+ monocytes were significantly higher in patients with plaque rupture or intracoronary thrombus assessed by FD-OCT.
Conclusion:
Up-regulation of PSGL-1 on CD14++CD16+ monocytes may be a crucial role in plaque rupture and thrombus formation.
More Related Videos
08:51Author Spotlight: Integrated Multi-Omics Analysis for Unveiling Multicellular Immune Signatures in Clinical Heart Attack Cohorts
Published on: September 20, 2024
11:45Generation and 3-Dimensional Quantitation of Arterial Lesions in Mice Using Optical Projection Tomography
Published on: May 26, 2015
Related Concept Videos
Acute Coronary Syndrome II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations
Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies
Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology
Acute Coronary Syndrome I: Introduction
Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests