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Lymphocyte subpopulations in myocardial infarction: a comparison between peripheral and intracoronary blood

Natalia Lluberas1, Natalia Trías2, Andreína Brugnini2

  • 1Flow Cytometry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidad de la República, Av. Italia s/n., Montevideo, 11600 Uruguay ; Department of Cardiology, Facultad de Medicina, University Cardiovascular Center, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.

Springerplus
|December 23, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Immune cells like CD4(+)CD28null T-cells and specific NK cells are elevated in the coronary arteries of myocardial infarction patients. These findings suggest a role in plaque instability and heart damage.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cardiology
  • Pathophysiology

Background:

  • Myocardial infarction (MI) involves complex immune responses.
  • Specific lymphocyte subsets may play a role in plaque instability and thrombus formation.
  • Understanding local immune cell profiles in the culprit artery is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the frequency and profile of lymphocyte subsets in the culprit coronary artery of MI patients.
  • To compare these subsets with their systemic circulating counterparts.
  • To explore the association of specific lymphocyte subsets with myocardial damage and clinical parameters.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of intracoronary (IC) and peripheral blood (PB) samples from 33 MI patients.
  • Flow cytometry to identify T cell subsets (CD4(+)CD28null, activated, regulatory, TH1/TH2/TH17), NK cells, and B cells.
  • Comparison of cell frequencies between IC and PB samples.
  • Correlation analysis with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) evolution time and creatine kinase (CK) levels.

Main Results:

  • CD4(+)CD28null T-lymphocytes were significantly increased in IC blood compared to PB (3.7% vs. 2.9%, p < 0.0001).
  • Higher CD4(+)CD28null T-cell levels were observed in STEMI patients with >6 hours of evolution.
  • A rare NK subpopulation (CD3(-)CD16(+)CD56(-)) was also increased in IC samples (5.6% vs. 3.9%, p = 0.006).
  • Both increased CD4(+)CD28null T-cells and NK subpopulations correlated with higher CK levels.
  • Elevated IFN-γ and IL-10 levels were found in IC CD4(+) lymphocytes.

Conclusions:

  • Specific immune cell populations, particularly CD4(+)CD28null T-cells and a rare NK subset, are enriched in the culprit coronary artery during MI.
  • These pro-inflammatory immune cells at the site of plaque rupture may contribute to thrombus formation and myocardial damage.
  • The findings highlight a potential pathophysiological role for these localized immune cells in acute coronary syndromes.

Keywords:
Acute coronary syndromeCD4CD28nullFlow cytometryImmune responseLymphocytes

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