T-cell reactivity against HSP60 relates to early but not advanced atherosclerosis.
BACKGROUND
Anti-heat-shock protein 60 (HSP60) antibody-levels have been linked to carotid atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk in a variety of studies. The potential role of cellular immune reactions against HSP60 has so far attracted little attention in epidemiological research.


RESULTS
In vitro T-cell reactivity to various HSP60s and tuberculin was assessed in blood samples from a elderly subpopulation of the Bruneck study (100 men, 50-69 years) and the young participants of the ARMY study (141 men, 17-18 years), and analyzed for a potential association with common carotoid artery intima-media thickness (IMT). In vivo skin reaction against tuberculin was recorded in subjects of the Bruneck study and correlated with the in vitro proliferative response to tuberculin (P=0.004). T-cells isolated from peripheral blood of all individuals proliferated upon stimulation with HSP60s. In multivariate linear regression analysis adjusted for standard risk factors, T-cell stimulation was significantly related to IMT in the ARMY (P=0.005 for human HSP60 and P=0.064 for mycobacterial HSP60) but not in the Bruneck study.


CONCLUSIONS
T-cell reactivity against HSP60s correlated with IMT in male youngsters but not in men aged 50 and over, indicating a more prominent role of specific cellular immunity to HSP60s in the young and very early stages of atherosclerosis.
Knoflach
M
M
Department of Clinical Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstr. 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Michael.Knoflach@uibk.ac.at
Kiechl
S
S
Mayrl
B
B
Kind
M
M
Gaston
J S H
JS
van der Zee
R
R
Faggionato
A
A
Mayr
A
A
Willeit
J
J
Wick
G
G
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D018834:Chaperonin 60 / Q000276:immunology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D015415:Biomarkers; D018834:Chaperonin 60