title: Blood polymorphonuclear leukocyte activation in atherosclerosis: effects of aspirin.
abstract: The aim of the study was to demonstrate an activation of polymorpho-nuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in chronic progressive atherosclerosis (ATH). A group of patients with ATH, and a group of ATH patients under aspirin (ASA) therapy were compared with control persons without atherosclerotic alterations (healthy controls). Each group comprised 15 male age-matched subjects. The following inflammatory parameters related to PMN activities were measured: the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) blood count; blood PMN migration and reactive oxygen species release in vitro; the blood levels of PMN elastase, malondialdehyde, antibodies to oxidized LDL and soluble ICAM-1. In ATH patients, the PMN blood counts and the share of blood PMNs migrating upon platelet activating factor and leukotriene B4 stimulation were significnatly above the values of the healthy controls, while the other parameters were not significantly altered. ASA treatment attenuated the inflammatory response and reduced the differences between ATH and the healthy controls. It can be concluded that, in patients with chronic progressive atherosclerosis, PMNs are involved in the inflammatory process underlying the disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathophysiology, Karl Franzens University, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Egger
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burda
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Obernosterer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mitterhammer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kager
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jürgens
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Hofer
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Fabjan
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pilger
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase; D001241:Aspirin