title: Human classical monocytes display unbalanced M1/M2 phenotype with increased atherosclerotic risk and presence of disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Specific monocyte and macrophage subsets have been implicated in atherosclerosis, with intermediate monocytes proportionally elevated in cardiovascular disease and M1 macrophages abundant in unstable atherosclerotic plaques. While several studies have shown altered proportions of these subsets in atherosclerosis, studies examining functional and phenotypic subset alterations remain scarce.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used whole blood flow cytometry to investigate the expression of M1 (CD86) and M2 (CD163) markers on monocyte subsets of atherosclerotic patients and controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Atherosclerotic patients had a more inflammatory monocyte profile than controls, indicated by increased intermediate subset proportions, a higher classical monocyte CD86/CD163 ratio, and elevated serum M1-related chemokines. A more inflammatory profile appeared to correlate with atherosclerotic risk, as in controls classical monocyte CD86/CD163 ratio was negatively correlated with HDL and apolipoprotein A1, and positively correlated with interleukin-1β.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that monocyte subsets show functional and phenotypic changes in cardiovascular disease and such changes are likely to contribute to atherosclerotic progression.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Biology Research Centre, Department of Surgery, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia - helen.williams@sydney.edu.au.|Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia - helen.williams@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Vascular Biology Research Centre, Department of Surgery, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cassorla
authors.affiliation: Vascular Biology Research Centre, Department of Surgery, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pertsoulis
authors.affiliation: Vascular Biology Research Centre, Department of Surgery, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia.
authors.forename: Vyoma
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Vascular Biology Research Centre, Department of Surgery, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia.|Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vicaretti
authors.affiliation: Research and Education Network, WSLHD, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia.
authors.forename: Najwa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marmash
authors.affiliation: Westmead Research Centre for Evaluation of Surgical Outcomes, Department of Surgery, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia.
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hitos
authors.affiliation: Vascular Biology Research Centre, Department of Surgery, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia.|Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.affiliation: Vascular Biology Research Centre, Department of Surgery, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia.|Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia.
authors.forename: Heather J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Medbury
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood*; D001315:Australia; D051940:B7-2 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018925:Chemokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult; D000098902:CD163 Antigen
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; D015415:Biomarkers; D000098902:CD163 Antigen; D018925:Chemokines; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface