Downregulation of T helper cell type 3 in patients with acute coronary syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
There is an imbalance between Th1 and Th2 in the development and progression of atherosclerosis and in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) including acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and unstable angina. T helper cell type 3 (Th3), which primarily secretes transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-beta1), has been shown to inhibit both Th1 and Th2 cells. The present study was designed to investigate whether Th3 cells are involved in plaque destabilization and the onset of ACS.


METHODS
Ninety one patients who underwent diagnostic catheterization were classified into four groups (AMI group, unstable angina group, stable angina group and chest pain syndrome group). The cell frequencies of Th1, Th2 and Th3 were detected using flow cytometry, and the concentrations of their related cytokines IFN-gamma, IL-4 and TGF-beta1 were studied by ELISA.


RESULTS
Apart from the imbalance between Th1 and Th2, results revealed a significant decrease in peripheral Th3 number and levels of TGF-beta1 in patients with ACS as compared with those in patients with stable angina and chest pain syndrome (p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Downregulation of Th3 cells in patients with ACS may play a potential role in plaque destabilization and the onset of ACS.
Ji
Qing-wei
QW
Institute of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Guo
Min
M
Zheng
Jin-song
JS
Mao
Xiao-bo
XB
Peng
Yu-dong
YD
Li
Song-nan
SN
Liang
Zhi-shan
ZS
Dai
Zhi-yin
ZY
Mao
Yi
Y
Zeng
Qiu-tang
QT
D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D000368:Aged; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000276:immunology; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000276:immunology
D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma