title: Inflammatory characteristics of premature coronary artery disease.
abstract: Although inflammation is a key process in atherogenesis, little is known about the inflammatory characteristics of culprit plaque in premature coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated inflammation in coronary atheroma from subjects who died of premature CAD. From 2001-2005, we collected coronary plaque samples from consecutive cases of CAD (n=23) reported to the Department of Forensic Medicine which led to unexpected death in men aged <45 years. Coronary plaque from younger CAD decedents (<35 years, n=12) had lower levels of T cells (CD3+) (p=0.03), higher macrophage (CD 68+) (p=0.01) and T regulator cells (FOXP3+) (p=0.03) infiltration when compared to older CAD decedents (>35 years, n=11). Interestingly, there was no significant age-related difference between groups in the smooth muscle cell, apoA-I, myeloperoxidase and MMP-2 content within plaque. Hence, we demonstrate that higher expression of FOXP3 is associated with younger age at the time of fatal outcomes from CAD. These findings may have implications for plaque pathophysiology and thus warrant further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Pathology, School of Medical Science, University of Sydney, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, Australia; Department of Cardiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia. Electronic address: rpuranik@mail.usyd.edu.au.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Puranik
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Pathology, School of Medical Science, University of Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: O J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Pathology, School of Medical Science, University of Sydney, Australia; Department of Forensic Medicine, Central Sydney Laboratory Service, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duflou
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Pathology, School of Medical Science, University of Sydney, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*