title: Lymphocyte subpopulations in myocardial infarction: a comparison between peripheral and intracoronary blood.
abstract: The frequency and profile of lymphocyte subsets within the culprit coronary artery were investigated in 33 patients with myocardial infarction and compared to their systemic circulating counterparts. T cell subsets including CD4(+)CD28null, activated and regulatory T-cells, TH1/TH2/TH17 phenotypes, NK and B-cells were studied in intracoronary (IC) and arterial peripheral blood (PB) samples. CD4(+)CD28null T-lymphocytes were significantly increased in IC compared to PB (3.7 vs. 2.9 %, p < 0.0001). Moreover, patients with more than 6 h of evolution of STEMI exhibited higher levels of CD4(+)CD28null T-cells suggesting that this subset may be associated with more intense myocardial damage. The rare NK subpopulation CD3(-)CD16(+)CD56(-) was also increased in IC samples (5.6 vs. 3.9 %, p = 0.006). CD4(+)CD28null T-cells and CD3(-)CD16(+)CD56(-) NK subpopulations were also associated with higher CK levels. Additionally, IFN-γ and IL10 were significantly higher in IC CD4(+) lymphocytes. Particular immune cell populations with a pro-inflammatory profile at the site of onset were increased relative to their circulating counterparts suggesting a pathophysiological role of these cells in plaque instability, thrombi and myocardial damage.
authors.affiliation: Flow Cytometry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidad de la República, Av. Italia s/n., Montevideo, 11600 Uruguay ; Department of Cardiology, Facultad de Medicina, University Cardiovascular Center, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lluberas
authors.affiliation: Flow Cytometry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidad de la República, Av. Italia s/n., Montevideo, 11600 Uruguay.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Trías
authors.affiliation: Flow Cytometry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidad de la República, Av. Italia s/n., Montevideo, 11600 Uruguay.
authors.forename: Andreína
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brugnini
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Facultad de Medicina, University Cardiovascular Center, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mila
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Facultad de Medicina, University Cardiovascular Center, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vignolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Facultad de Medicina, University Cardiovascular Center, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Trujillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Facultad de Medicina, University Cardiovascular Center, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Durán
authors.affiliation: Flow Cytometry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidad de la República, Av. Italia s/n., Montevideo, 11600 Uruguay.
authors.forename: Sofía
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grille
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Facultad de Medicina, University Cardiovascular Center, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lluberas
authors.affiliation: Flow Cytometry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidad de la República, Av. Italia s/n., Montevideo, 11600 Uruguay.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lens
keywords: Acute coronary syndrome; CD4CD28null; Flow cytometry; Immune response; Lymphocytes