Increased expression of the CD11b/CD18 antigen on the surface of peripheral white blood cells in patients with ischemic heart disease: Further evidence for smoldering inflammation in patients with atherosclerosis

• Published in: The American heart journal 1999-09, Vol.138 (3), p.555-559
• Main Authors: Kassirer, Michael, Zeltser, David, Prochorov, Vitali, Schoenman, Guy, Frimerman, Aaron, Keren, Gad, Shapira, Itzhak, Miller, Hylton, Roth, Arie, Arber, Nadir, Eldor, Amiram, Berliner, Shlomo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Arteriosclerosis - immunology; Arteriosclerosis - physiopathology; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology. Vascular system; CD18 Antigens - analysis; Coronary heart disease; Female; Heart; Humans; Inflammation - physiopathology; Leukocytes - immunology; Macrophage-1 Antigen - analysis; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Myocardial Ischemia - immunology; Myocardial Ischemia - physiopathology
• ISSN: 0002-8703; 1097-6744
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-8703(99)70160-2

Background This study examined the availability of the CD11b/CD18 and CD62L antigens on the surface of peripheral blood leukocytes in patients with ischemic heart disease. Methods and Results The study population included 45 patients with angiographically documented ischemic heart disease admitted to our department of internal medicine and the cardiology department during 1 month (December 1997). Sixty-six healthy members of the hospital medical staff served as control subjects. Another 39 post-trauma patients who were admitted to the emergency room were also evaluated. Patients with ischemic heart disease had significantly ( P < .002) higher concentrations of CD11b/CD18 antigen on the surface of their polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes (mean fluorescence intensity of 203 ± 81 and 261 ± 75, respectively) compared with the control group (mean fluorescence intensity 158 ± 68 and 211 ± 74, respectively) and to the group of patients with acute stress (mean fluorescence intensity of 146 ± 70 and 200 ± 22, respectively). Conclusions The presence of increased concentration of CD11b/CD18 suggests that circulating leukocytes are activated in patients with ischemic heart disease. This activation probably reflects the presence of an inflammatory response involving the atherosclerotic lesion and is not merely a result of acute stress. (Am Heart J 1999;138:555-9.)