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Updated: Apr 20, 2026
Coronary Progenitor Cells and Soluble Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Prognosis after Coronary Angioplasty
Published on: January 28, 2020
Coronary artery endothelial cells and microparticles increase expression of VCAM-1 in myocardial infarction
Christopher E Radecke, Alexandra E Warrick, Gagan D Singh
1Scott I. Simon, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California at Davis, 451 East Health Sciences Drive, Davis, CA 95616, USA, Tel.: +1 530 752 0299, E-mail sisimon@ucdavis.edu.
Insights
Researchers developed a new method to analyze endothelial cells and microparticles directly from coronary artery plaque during procedures. This analysis revealed higher VCAM-1 expression in myocardial infarction patients, indicating increased vascular inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Immunology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) involves atherosclerotic plaque buildup, potentially leading to myocardial infarction (MI) via plaque rupture.
- Assessing endothelial inflammation directly at coronary artery stenosis sites has been challenging, often relying on pathology or animal models.
- Inflammatory pathways significantly impact atherosclerotic plaque stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a technique for isolating and characterizing endothelial cells (ECs) and EC microparticles (EMPs) from coronary artery plaque during interventions.
- To assess the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) on ECs and EMPs at the site of coronary artery stenosis.
- To investigate the correlation between VCAM-1 expression and the severity of inflammation in patients with CAD and MI.
Main Methods:
- Developed a novel technique to isolate ECs and EMPs from coronary artery plaque during balloon angioplasty and percutaneous coronary intervention.
- Utilized imaging flow cytometry (IFC) to identify coronary artery endothelial cells (CAECs).
- Quantified VCAM-1 expression on individual CAECs and EMPs immediately post-angioplasty.
Main Results:
- Patients with MI showed significantly higher VCAM-1 expression on CAECs (73% increase) and EMPs (79% increase) compared to stable CAD patients.
- VCAM-1 expression was notably absent on ECs from the peripheral circulation of the same subjects.
- Elevated VCAM-1 density on CAECs and EMPs in MI patients positively correlated with markers of myocardial infarct size.
Conclusions:
- Increased VCAM-1 expression on ECs and EMPs at the coronary plaque site is a strong indicator of vascular inflammation.
- This novel method allows for direct assessment of endothelial inflammation in human coronary artery disease.
- Findings suggest VCAM-1 plays a critical role in the inflammatory processes underlying myocardial infarction.
Abstract:
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is characterised by progressive atherosclerotic plaque leading to flow-limiting stenosis, while myocardial infarction (MI) occurs due to plaque rupture or erosion with abrupt coronary artery occlusion. Multiple inflammatory pathways influence plaque stability, but direct assessment of endothelial inflammation at the site of coronary artery stenosis has largely been limited to pathology samples or animal models of atherosclerosis. We describe a technique for isolating and characterising endothelial cells (ECs) and EC microparticles (EMPs) derived directly from the site of coronary artery plaque during balloon angioplasty and percutaneous coronary intervention. Coronary artery endothelial cells (CAECs) were identified using imaging flow cytometry (IFC), and individual CAEC and EMP expression of the pro-atherogenic adhesion molecule vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) was assessed immediately following angioplasty. Patients with MI registered 73 % higher VCAM-1 expression on their CAECs and 79 % higher expression on EMPs compared to patients with stable CAD. In contrast, VCAM-1 expression was absent on ECs in the peripheral circulation from these same subjects. VCAM-1 density was significantly higher on CAECs and EMPs among patients with MI and positively correlated with markers of myocardial infarct size. We conclude that increased VCAM-1 expression on EC and formation of EMP at the site of coronary plaque is positively correlated with the extent of vascular inflammation in patients with myocardial infarction.
