title: Circulating CD36 and fractalkine levels are associated with vulnerable plaque progression in patients with unstable angina pectoris.
abstract: The chemokine, fractalkine, independently enhances the vulnerability of coronary atherosclerotic plaques. The present study investigated the combined effects of CD36 and fractalkine on coronary plaque progression in patients with unstable angina pectoris. In the present study, 120 unstable angina pectoris patients undergoing coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound were divided into two groups: an intermediate lesion group (lumen diameter stenosis 50-70%, 80 patients) and a severe lesion group (at least one lesion with lumen diameter stenosis > 70%, 40 patients). The control group consisted of 40 healthy age- and sex-matched subjects. Concentrations of CD36 and fractalkine were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Major adverse cardiovascular events were monitored over a 2-year follow up. Intravascular ultrasound showed that patients with severe lesions had more calcified and mixed plaques, and a larger plaque area and plaque burden than patients with intermediate lesions (P < 0.05-0.01). More patients with severe lesions underwent stent deployment (P < 0.05) than those with intermediate lesions. CD36 and fractalkine concentrations were significantly higher in the severe lesion patients (P < 0.05), and both had significant positive correlations (P < 0.05) with the plaque burden of atherosclerotic lesions. Using the matched nested case-control study, we found that CD36 and fractalkine levels were higher in patients with recurrent major adverse cardiovascular events than controls (P < 0.05). In conclusion, CD36 and fractalkine both promote, and might synergistically enhance, the progression of coronary atherosclerotic plaques.
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education and Chinese Ministry of Health, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, China; Department of Emergency, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Rui Jian
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ji Fu
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Yu Guo
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wen Qiang
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D054428:Chemokine CX3CL1 / Q000097:blood*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018955:CD36 Antigens; C515538:CX3CL1 protein, human; D054428:Chemokine CX3CL1
keywords: CD36; coronary atherosclerosis; fractalkine; intermediate lesions; unstable angina pectoris; vulnerable plaque