Enhanced endothelial activation in diabetic patients with unstable angina and non-Q-wave myocardial infarction.
OBJECTIVE
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with chronic endothelial dysfunction. Diabetic patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes have a worse prognosis than non-diabetics. An acute inflammatory reaction at the site of coronary plaque rupture and increased expression of surface and soluble cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs) are pathological features of acute coronary syndromes. We set out to characterize the expression of soluble CAMs in patients with and without diabetes presenting with unstable angina (UA) and non Q-wave myocardial infarction (NQMI).


METHODS
Patients presenting with UA and NQMI had serum samples taken on presentation, after 72 h and then 3, 6 and 12 months after discharge. Levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin and P-selectin were measured using an ELISA technique.


RESULTS
We studied 15 diabetic patients and 15 age- and sex-matched non-diabetic patients presenting with either UA or NQMI. Levels of soluble E-selectin were elevated in the diabetic patients in comparison with the non-diabetic patients at all measured time points: 74 +/- 10 ng/ml vs. 47 +/- 3 ng/ml, P < 0.03 at t = 0 h, 55 +/- 5 ng/ml vs. 38 +/- 2 ng/ml, P < 0.02 at t = 72 h. However, levels of soluble P-selectin were lower in the diabetic cohort during follow-up: 134 +/- 15 ng/ml vs. 225 +/- 32 ng/ml, P < 0.02 at t = 3/12 and 112 +/- 8 ng/ml vs. 197 +/- 23 ng/ml, P < 0.02 at t = 6/12. There was no significant difference in levels of soluble ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 between diabetic and non-diabetic patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Levels of soluble E-selectin are significantly elevated in diabetic patients presenting with UA and NQMI in comparison with non-diabetics. This finding may reflect enhanced endothelial activation which may contribute to the adverse prognosis of diabetic patients with acute coronary syndromes.
Mulvihill
N T
NT
Royal City of Dublin Hospital Research and Education Institute, Department of Cardiology, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. mulvihin@hotmail.com
Foley
J B
JB
Murphy
R T
RT
Pate
G
G
Crean
P A
PA
Walsh
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*
D019040:E-Selectin; D019007:P-Selectin; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1