Local cytokine concentrations and oxygen pressure are related to maturation of the collateral circulation in humans.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to determine cytokine and oxygen gradients over the collateral circulation in humans.


BACKGROUND
The molecular background of the maturation of the collateral circulation in response to coronary narrowing is poorly understood in humans, partly because of difficulties in obtaining local samples from the human collateral circulation.


METHODS
Coronary collateral blood was sampled in 60 patients with nontotal (n = 25) or total coronary occlusions (n = 35) using a special wide-lumen catheter. Coronary collateral flow index (CFI) was assessed by intracoronary pressure measurements. Oxygenation and lactate content was measured as well as 30 cytokines potentially involved in collateral artery growth, using a custom-made multiplex assay.


RESULTS
No rise in lactate or change in pH was found in collateral blood. Oxygen gradient between coronary and collateral arterial blood correlated inversely with CFI (r = -0.61, p < 0.001). Locally increased plasma levels were found for basic fibroblast growth factor, eotaxin, macrophage migration inflammatory factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and transforming growth factor-beta, while stem cell factor and stem cell growth factor-beta were significantly decreased. The highest cytokine gradients were found in patients with the least developed collateral circulation. The majority of cytokines correlated more strongly with the pO(2) gradient across the collateral bed than with CFI.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravascular ischemia during brief balloon coronary occlusion is absent in human coronary collateral arteries. The oxygen gradient found over the collateral circulation is increased in patients with a less matured collateral circulation and relates to local levels of several known pro-arteriogenic cytokines. In case of a more developed collateral circulation, relatively low levels of cytokines are present, suggesting that growth factor therapy might be beneficial at this stage.
Schirmer
Stephan H
SH
Department of Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
van Royen
Niels
N
Moerland
Perry D
PD
Fledderus
Joost O
JO
Henriques
José P
JP
van der Schaaf
René J
RJ
Vis
Marije M
MM
Baan
Jan
J
Koch
Karel T
KT
Horrevoets
Anton J G
AJ
Hoefer
Imo E
IE
Piek
Jan J
JJ
D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D003097:Collateral Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D016207:Cytokines; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010100:Oxygen