Associations between dietary patterns and flow cytometry-measured biomarkers of inflammation and cellular activation in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Carotid Artery MRI Study.
BACKGROUND
Specific foods and overall dietary patterns are associated with soluble biomarkers of systemic inflammation and endothelial activation. However, no large epidemiological studies have evaluated relationships between such dietary factors and cell-specific markers of activation and inflammation as measured by flow cytometry.


METHODS
Cell aggregates and multiple platelet and leukocyte markers were quantified by flow cytometry in fresh whole blood from 1101 white adults participating in the Carotid Artery MRI Study, a subset of the larger Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Two dietary patterns ("Healthy" and "Western") were empirically derived via principal components analysis using data collected by food frequency questionnaire. Cross-sectional associations between dietary patterns and flow cytometry-measured biomarkers were evaluated, adjusting for demographics and lifestyle factors, including medications use.


RESULTS
After multivariable adjustment, monocyte lipopolysaccharide receptor (CD14), monocyte toll-like receptor-2, and platelet glycoprotein IIb (CD41) showed inverse associations with the Healthy dietary pattern (p=0.01, 0.04, and 0.01, respectively). In contrast, the Western dietary pattern was positively associated with CD41 and platelet-granulocyte aggregates (p=0.01 and 0.04, respectively). Independent of other dietary factors, alcohol consumption was inversely associated with levels of pan-leukocyte marker (CD45), P-selectin (CD62P) on PLA1 and on PLA2 platelets, and platelet-monocyte, platelet-granulocyte, and platelet-lymphocyte aggregates.


CONCLUSIONS
Dietary patterns and alcohol intake were each cross-sectionally associated with select markers of cellular activation and inflammation measured by flow cytometry. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that holistic measures of dietary intake are associated with inflammation.
Nettleton
Jennifer A
JA
Division of Epidemiology & Disease Control, The University of Texas Health Sciences Center School of Public Health, 1200 Herman Pressler, Suite E-641, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Jennifer.A.Nettleton@uth.tmc.edu
Matijevic
Nena
N
Follis
Jack L
JL
Folsom
Aaron R
AR
Boerwinkle
Eric
E
D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015930:Diet Records; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000097:blood; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000097:blood; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D040201:Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIb / Q000097:blood; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2 / Q000097:blood; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D019007:P-Selectin; D040201:Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIb; C495342:TLR2 protein, human; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; C516769:PTPRC protein, human