title: Monocyte gene expression and coronary artery disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite current therapy, coronary artery disease (CAD) remains the major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. CAD is the consequence of a complex array of deranged metabolic processes including the immune system. In this context, monocytes and macrophages are indisputable players. Thus, monocyte gene expression analysis could be a powerful tool to provide new insights in the pathophysiology of CAD and improve identification of individuals at risk. We discuss current literature assessing monocyte gene expression and its association with CAD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Monocyte surface markers CD14 ⁺⁺and CD16⁺ have been established as biomarkers for increased cardiovascular disease risk in a large number of studies. More in-depth gene expression analysis identified several interesting genes, such as ABCA1, CD36 and MSR1 with an increased expression in circulating monocytes from patients with CAD. The results for CD36 were replicated in one other study. For ABCA1 and MSR1 conflicting data are published.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recent findings indicate that genetic differences exist in circulating monocytes of patients suffering from CAD, giving us more insights into the underlying mechanisms. However, larger studies are required to prove that monocytes' expression signature could serve as a marker for diagnostic purposes in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maiwald
authors.forename: Peter-Paul
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Zwetsloot
authors.forename: Suthesh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sivapalaratnam
authors.forename: Geesje M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Dallinga-Thie
mesh_terms: D064286:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051117:Scavenger Receptors, Class A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C577836:ABCA1 protein, human; D064286:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1; D015415:Biomarkers; D018955:CD36 Antigens; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; C495139:MSR1 protein, human; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D051117:Scavenger Receptors, Class A