Elevated soluble CD40 ligand is related to the endothelial adhesion molecules in patients with acute coronary syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Increasing evidence indicates that the CD40-CD40L interaction plays a pivotal role in the inflammatory regulation of atherosclerosis. Adhesion molecules especially the vascular adhesion molecules also play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis which act as markers of inflammation. These inflammatory factors render vulnerability to the atherosclerotic plaque by triggering the fissure, rupture, and subsequent thrombosis, leading to the clinical scenario of unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction.


METHODS
The difference of sCD40L concentration in different subtype of coronary heart disease and its relationship with vascular adhesion molecules was investigated. Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (EIA) was used to measure the serum sCD40L, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1).


RESULTS
The sCD40L concentration was significantly higher in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (3.17+/-2.84 ng/ml) than in controls (1.19+/-1.05 ng/ml, p<0.01) and in patients with stable coronary heart disease (1.61+/-1.46 ng/ml, p<0.05). The sCD40L concentration was positively correlated with sICAM-1 (r=0.413, p<0.01), triglycerides (TG) (r=0.23, p<0.05), apoB (r=0.248, p<0.05), and HDL-cholesterol (r=-0.253, p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The sCD40L concentration was increased in acute coronary syndrome, suggesting the possible relation of CD40L to the pathogenesis. The serum CD40L concentration was positively correlated with adhesion molecule and was negatively associated with serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C).
Peng
Dao-Quan
DQ
Department of Cardiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China. pengdq@hotmail.com
Zhao
Shui-Ping
SP
Li
Yi-Fu
YF
Li
Jiang
J
Zhou
Hong-Nian
HN
D000368:Aged; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood*; D004727:Endothelium / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012995:Solubility; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D023201:CD40 Ligand