Association between Toll-like receptors and the extent and severity of coronary artery disease in patients with stable angina.
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.
Mizoguchi
Etsuko
E
Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory & Metabolic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
Orihara
Koji
K
Hamasaki
Shuichi
S
Ishida
Sanemasa
S
Kataoka
Tetsuro
T
Ogawa
Masakazu
M
Saihara
Keishi
K
Okui
Hideki
H
Fukudome
Tsuyoshi
T
Shinsato
Takuro
T
Shirasawa
Takahiro
T
Ichiki
Hitoshi
H
Kubozono
Takuro
T
Ninomiya
Yuichi
Y
Otsuji
Yutaka
Y
Tei
Chuwa
C
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*
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