Increases in interleukin-6 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in the infarct-related coronary artery of acute myocardial infarction.
BACKGROUND
To elucidate the involvement of inflammation in coronary artery occlusion, the regional changes in cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the infarct-related coronary artery were determined in patients with acute myocardial infarction.


RESULTS
Cardiac catheterization was carried out within 24 h of the onset of infarction in 36 patients. Blood samples were collected from the infarct-related coronary artery, the ascending aorta and the peripheral vein. Plasma interleukin (IL)-6 concentrations were elevated in all 3 samples. Particularly, the plasma IL-6 concentrations were 14.4 pg/ml in the infarct-related coronary artery, a value significantly greater than the respective 8.0 pg/ml and 6.5 pg/ml in the ascending aorta and peripheral vein. Plasma IL-6 concentrations in the infarct-related coronary artery had positive correlation with all of the following references measured by intravascular ultrasound: external elastic membrane cross-sectional area (EEM-CSA) (r=0.47, p<0.01), lesion EEM-CSA (r=0.51, p<0.01) and plaque area (r=0.48, p<0.01). MMP-9 was increased regionally in the infarct-related coronary artery, at 11.8 ng/ml vs 8.2 ng/ml in the ascending aorta (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The present findings suggest that IL-6 at least is released from the ruptured vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque and that regional activation of macrophages is involved in the occlusive process of coronary artery in acute myocardial infarction.
Funayama
Hiroshi
H
Department of Medicine, Jichi Medical School, Omiya Medical Center, Saitama, Japan. funahiro@omiya.jichi.ac.jp
Ishikawa
San-e
SE
Kubo
Norifumi
N
Katayama
Takuji
T
Yasu
Takanori
T
Saito
Muneyasu
M
Kawakami
Masanobu
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001011:Aorta; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D014680:Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D015850:Interleukin-6; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9