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Updated: Mar 25, 2026
Flow Cytometry Analysis of Immune Cells Within Murine Aortas
Published on: July 1, 2011
Circulating CD14(+) monocytes in patients with aortic stenosis
Sara Shimoni1, Valery Meledin1, Iris Bar1
1Heart Institute, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, Israel.
Insights
Patients with calcific aortic stenosis (AS) have more circulating CD14(+) monocytes. Higher monocyte counts correlate with more severe AS, suggesting inflammation plays a role in advanced stages of this valvular heart disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Immunology
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Calcific aortic stenosis (AS) involves inflammation, fibrosis, and calcification, similar to atherosclerosis.
- Monocytes are implicated in these pathological processes, but their specific role in AS remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between circulating CD14(+) monocytes (both apoptotic and non-apoptotic) and features of calcific aortic stenosis.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry was used to quantify CD14(+) monocytes and apoptotic monocytes in 54 patients with significant AS and 33 controls.
- Patients with AS had an aortic valve area of 0.74 ± 0.27 cm(2).
Main Results:
- No significant differences in risk factors or other vascular diseases were found between AS patients and controls.
- AS patients showed significantly higher numbers of CD14(+) monocytes compared to controls (9.9% ± 4.9% vs. 7.7% ± 3.9%, P = 0.03).
- Monocyte counts correlated with age, AS presence, and severity, and were inversely related to aortic valve area in AS patients.
Conclusions:
- Significant AS is characterized by an increased number of circulating CD14(+) monocytes.
- The inverse correlation between monocyte count and aortic valve area suggests inflammation is active even in severe, calcified stages of AS.
Background:
Calcific aortic stenosis (AS) is an active process sharing similarities with atherosclerosis and chronic inflammation. The pathophysiology of AS is notable for three cardinal components: inflammation, fibrosis and calcification. Monocytes play a role in each of these processes. The role of circulating monocytes in AS is not clear. The aim of the present study was to study an association between circulating apoptotic and non apoptotic CD14(+) monocytes and AS features.
Methods:
We assessed the number of CD14(+) monocytes and apoptotic monocytes in 54 patients with significant AS (aortic valve area 0.74 ± 0.27 cm(2)) and compared them to 33 patients with similar risk factors and no valvular disease. The level of CD14(+) monocytes and apoptotic monocytes was assessed by flow cytometry.
Results:
There was no difference in the risk factor profile and known coronary or peripheral vascular diseases between patients with AS and controls. Patients with AS exhibited increased numbers of CD14(+) monocytes as compared to controls (9.9% ± 4.9% vs. 7.7% ± 3.9%, P = 0.03). CD14(+) monocyte number was related to age and the presence and severity of AS. In patients with AS, both CD14(+) monocytes and apoptotic monocytes were inversely related to aortic valve area.
Conclusions:
Patients with significant AS have increased number of circulating CD14(+) monocytes and there is an inverse correlation between monocyte count and aortic valve area. These findings may suggest that inflammation is operative not only in early valve injury phase, but also at later developed stages such as calcification when AS is severe.
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