title: Association between Toll-like receptors and the extent and severity of coronary artery disease in patients with stable angina.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Toll-like receptors mediate the innate immune response triggered by pathogen-associated molecular patterns, and atherosclerosis can be considered a state of chronic inflammation whereby immune system cells accumulate within the intima of the arterial wall. The goal of this study was to determine the relation of Toll-like receptors to the extent and severity of coronary artery disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Angiographic vessel score and Gensini score were used to evaluate the extent and severity of coronary atherosclerosis. Sixty-two consecutive patients with stable angina were grouped as follows: those with insignificant (<50%) coronary stenosis (group 1), and those with 1 (group 2), 2 (group 3), or 3-vessel disease (group 4). The expression of Toll-like receptor 1, 2, and 4 on circulating CD14+ monocytes was analyzed by flow-cytometry in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Toll-like receptor 2 had a positive correlation with the vessel score and Gensini score (r=0.46, P<0.001; r=0.32, P<0.02, respectively). Toll-like receptor 4 also positively correlated with the vessel score and Gensini score (r=0.47, P<0.001; r=0.29, P<0.05, respectively). No significant correlation existed between the expression of Toll-like receptor 1 and the vessel score or Gensini score. Further, there was no significant correlation between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and the vessel score or Gensini score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that Toll-like receptor 2 and 4 expression correlates with the extent and severity of coronary artery disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory & Metabolic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Etsuko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mizoguchi
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Orihara
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hamasaki
authors.forename: Sanemasa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kataoka
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Keishi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saihara
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okui
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukudome
authors.forename: Takuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shinsato
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shirasawa
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ichiki
authors.forename: Takuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kubozono
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ninomiya
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Otsuji
authors.forename: Chuwa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tei
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000276:immunology; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D051194:Toll-Like Receptor 1 / Q000276:immunology; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2 / Q000276:immunology; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000276:immunology; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D051194:Toll-Like Receptor 1; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D002097:C-Reactive Protein