CD14+CD16+ monocytes in coronary artery disease and their relationship to serum TNF-α levels

Axel Schlitt; Gunnar H. Heine; Stefan Blankenberg; Christine Espinola-Klein; Joern F. Dopheide; Christoph Bickel; Karl J. Lackner; Mete Iz; Juergen Meyer; Harald Darius; Hans J. Rupprecht

doi:10.1160/TH04-02-0095

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Table of Contents

Thromb Haemost 2004; 92(02): 419-424
DOI: 10.1160/TH04-02-0095

Cell Signalling and Vessel Remodelling

Schattauer GmbH

CD14+CD16+ monocytes in coronary artery disease and their relationship to serum TNF-α levels

Axel Schlitt^*

¹Department of Medicine II and Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany

,

Gunnar H. Heine^*

²Department of Medicine IV, University of the Saarland, Homburg/Saar, Germany

,

Stefan Blankenberg

¹Department of Medicine II and Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany

,

Christine Espinola-Klein

¹Department of Medicine II and Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany

,

Joern F. Dopheide

¹Department of Medicine II and Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany

,

Christoph Bickel

¹Department of Medicine II and Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany

,

Karl J. Lackner

¹Department of Medicine II and Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany

,

Mete Iz

¹Department of Medicine II and Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany

,

Juergen Meyer

¹Department of Medicine II and Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany

,

Harald Darius

¹Department of Medicine II and Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany

,

Hans J. Rupprecht

¹Department of Medicine II and Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Summary

Monocytes play a central role in the inflammatory disease atherosclerosis. CD14+CD16+ monocytes are considered proinflammatory monocytes, as they have an increased capacity to produce proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, and are elevated in various inflammatory diseases. We hypothesized that patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) have increased levels of CD14+CD16+ monocytes, and that CD14+CD16+ monocytes are associated with inflammation markers. We investigated CD14+CD16+ monocytes in 247 patients with CAD and 61 control subjects using flow cytometry. In addition serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, and Hs-CRP were assessed. Patients with CAD had higher levels of CD14+CD16+ monocytes than controls (13.6% versus 11.4%; p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis including quartiles of CD14+CD16+ monocytes showed that CD14+CD16+ monocytes were associated with prevalence of CAD (OR 4.9, 95% CI 2.5–19.1, for subjects in the fourth quartile in comparison to subjects in the first quartile). The association between CD14+CD16+ monocytes and CAD remained independently significant after adjustment for most potential confounders (OR 5.0, 95% CI 1.2-20.0). Serum concentrations of TNF-α were elevated in subjects within the highest quartiles of CD14+CD16+ monocytes (p=0.018). Our study showed that increased numbers of CD14+CD16+ monocytes are associated with coronary atherosclerosis and TNF-α. In accordance, recent animal studies suggest a possibly important role of these monocytes in the development of atherosclerosis.

Keywords

CD14+CD16+ monocytes - TNF-alpha - coronary artery disease

Full Text

References

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