Expression of monocyte and lymphocyte adhesion molecules is increased in isolated coronary artery ectasia.
BACKGROUND
Coronary artery ectasia is defined as localized or diffuse dilation of the coronary arteries exceeding the 1.5-fold of normal adjacent segment. Scarce data are available about the role of inflammation in coronary artery ectasia. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the expression of CD11b and CD45 adhesion molecules in peripheral blood granulocytes, monocytes and lymphocytes from the patients with coronary artery ectasia as possible indicators of inflammation.


METHODS
The study consisted of 14 patients who had angiographically normal coronary arteries with coronary artery ectasia and 13 age and sex-matched controls without coronary artery ectasia. Cell surface adhesion molecules were detected by direct immunofluorescence evaluated by flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies tagged with fluorescent markers. Venous blood samples were taken after coronary angiography.


RESULTS
Mean fluorescence intensity of CD45 (33.8+/-3.1 vs. 13.0+/-0.7, P<0.001) and CD11b (39.1+/-13.5 vs. 19.5+/-1.32, P<0.001) on the monocyte surface of patients with coronary artery ectasia were higher than those of controls. Similarly in patients with coronary artery ectasia, the expression of CD11b (7.5+/-0.61 vs. 5.6+/-0.2, P=0.009) and CD45 (47.5+/-3.6 vs. 36.2+/-2.5, P=0.02) on lymphocytes was also significantly higher than those of controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased levels of cellular adhesion molecules in patients with coronary artery ectasia may be an indicator of endothelial activation and inflammation and are likely to be in the causal pathway leading to coronary artery ectasia.
Yildirim
Nesligul
N
Departments of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Zonguldak Karaelmas University, Kozlu/Zonguldak, Turkey. nesligul2004@hotmail.com
Tekin
Ishak O
IO
Dogan
Sait M
SM
Aydin
Mustafa
M
Gursurer
Metin
M
Cam
Fatih
F
Gungorduk
Alper
A
Akoz
Ayla
A
D039481:CD11b Antigen / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D039481:CD11b Antigen; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens