title: Elevated concentrations of pentraxin 3 are associated with coronary plaque vulnerability.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inflammation is a critical contributing factor to the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is produced abundantly in atherosclerotic lesions while C-reactive protein (CRP) is mainly produced in the liver. In this study, we investigated whether plasma levels of PTX3 might be a sensitive marker both for the severity of coronary artery disease and vulnerable plaques. Next, we determined whether assays for inflammatory molecules can be used to monitor the therapeutic effects of telmisartan on stabilization of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We measured PTX3 concentrations in the peripheral and coronary sinus plasma of 40 patients with angina pectoris (AP) and 20 control subjects. Next, in 28 patients with AP, we determined the correlation between levels of inflammatory molecules and the computed tomography (CT) density of plaques as a quantitative index of plaque vulnerability. There was no significant difference in peripheral plasma PTX3 concentrations between patients with AP and control subjects, while coronary sinus plasma PTX3 concentrations were significantly higher in AP patients than control subjects. The concentrations of PTX3 in coronary sinus and peripheral plasma correlated with Gensini scores as an index of severity of coronary atherosclerosis. Interestingly, there was a significantly negative correlation between plasma PTX3 concentrations and CT density (r=-0.67, p<0.01). On the other hand, CT density did not correlate with the peripheral plasma concentrations of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) or high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP). Furthermore, telmisartan treatment for 6 months decreased plasma concentrations of PTX3 but not those of MCP-1 or hsCRP in 12 patients with essential hypertension. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that changes in PTX3 levels were independent of blood pressure changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PTX3 is likely more specific than hsCRP as an indicator of coronary plaque vulnerability that could lead to plaque rupture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan. soeki@clin.med.tokushima-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Soeki
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Niki
authors.forename: Kenya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kusunose
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bando
authors.forename: Yoichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koshiba
authors.forename: Shusuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yagi
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Taketani
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwase
authors.forename: Hirotsugu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Tetsuzo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wakatsuki
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akaike
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sata
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000175:diagnosis*; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001565:Benzoates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D054326:Coronary Sinus; D018450:Disease Progression; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000032:analysis*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000077333:Telmisartan; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D000099153:Pentraxins
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D001565:Benzoates; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D000077333:Telmisartan; D000099153:Pentraxins