Chemotaxis analysis of circulating monocytes in patients with a recent acute coronary syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Monocytes/macrophages are crucially involved in the process of atherogenesis. Presence of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is associated with macrophage activation. We investigated whether ligand-induced monocyte chemotaxis can serve as biomarker in recent ACS and discriminate ACS from stable coronary artery disease (CAD).


METHODS
In a prospective study, the migratory response of monocytes towards the chemotactic ligands vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in patients with recent ACS (n=29) (median time period since cardiovascular event, 11 days) and stable CAD patients (n=41) was analysed. Furthermore, blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), VEGF-A and soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (sVEGRF-1) were determined.


RESULTS
Unexpectedly, VEGF-A-induced monocyte chemotaxis did not differ between ACS and CAD. The same was true for the chemotactic response of monocytes towards MCP-1. In addition, we could not find any difference in VEGF-A and sVEGFR-1 levels between recent ACS and stable CAD. CRP was significantly enhanced in the ACS group, but did not correlate with the VEGF-A- and MCP-1-induced chemotaxis.


CONCLUSIONS
Recent ACS is not associated with enhanced monocyte chemotaxis towards VEGF-A and MCP-1. Therefore, VEGF-A- and MCP-1-induced monocyte chemotaxis as a potential novel biomarker remains unaffected by recent ACS.
Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Frauke S
FS
Czepluch
Bernhard
B
Zweigle
Johannes
J
Waltenberger
D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D054441:Cell Migration Assays, Leukocyte; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000378:metabolism; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; C501162:FLT1 protein, human; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1