Anti-inflammatory action of apoptotic cells in patients with acute coronary syndromes.
OBJECTIVE
Atherosclerotic plaques contain both apoptotic cells and phagocytes. Apoptotic cells are known to exert an anti-inflammatory effect. Little is known on their action in patients with acute coronary syndromes.


RESULTS
We challenged mononuclear phagocytes from the peripheral blood of patients with acute coronary syndromes (n=20) and healthy controls (n=30) with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 100ng/ml) or peptidoglycan (PGN, 20microg/ml) in the presence or in the absence of apoptotic cells. After 24h, mononuclear phagocytes from patients with acute coronary syndromes produced more TNFalpha and IL-10 than controls; moreover, they were significantly more susceptible to the anti-inflammatory action of apoptotic cells. Apoptotic cells were more effective in ACS patients with C-reactive protein levels <3mg/l than in patients with CRP levels >3mg/l.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with acute coronary syndromes and low circulating C-reactive protein levels are more sensitive to the anti-inflammatory action of apoptotic cells: this suggests the existence of an enhanced anti-inflammatory feedback circuit, which could contribute to protect from plaque instability.
Ferri
Luca A
LA
Istituto Scientifico San Raffaele and Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy. ferri.luca@hsr.it
Maugeri
Norma
N
Rovere-Querini
Patrizia
P
Calabrese
Alice
A
Ammirati
Enrico
E
Cianflone
Domenico
D
Maseri
Attilio
A
Manfredi
Angelo A
AA
D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000378:metabolism; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000166:cytology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010457:Peptidoglycan; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D002097:C-Reactive Protein