Patrícia Napoleão1, Mafalda Selas2, Cláudia Freixo2, Miguel Mota Carmo3, Ana Maria Viegas-Crespo4, Rui Cruz Ferreira2, Teresa Pinheiro5. 1. Unidade de Biologia Microvascular e Inflamação, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal Grupo de Estudos Biomédicos, Unidade de Física e Aceleradores, Instituto Tecnológico e Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal. 2. Serviço Cardiologia, Hospital Santa Marta, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central, Lisboa, Portugal. 3. Serviço Cardiologia, Hospital Santa Marta, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central, Lisboa, Portugal Centro de Estudos de Doenças Crónicas, Faculdade Ciências Médias, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal. 4. Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro & Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal. 5. Grupo de Estudos Biomédicos, Unidade de Física e Aceleradores, Instituto Tecnológico e Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal Centro de Física Nuclear, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Auto-immune responses are associated with oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) release, a key factor in plaque destabilization. Data on the relationship between ox-LDL and T lymphocytes in human populations remains scarce. T cells also react with other molecules from the lesion and/or damage the myocardium. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between circulating T lymphocytes, ox-LDL, markers of myocardial necrosis (cTnT), myocardial dysfunction (N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide - NT-proBNP) and inflammation (C-reactive protein - CRP) in the setting of acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: A longitudinal study of 55 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were evaluated at three time points: admission, 2 and 40 days following admission, together with 30 patients with stable angina (SA) and 56 subjects without coronary artery disease serving as controls (CTR). RESULTS: STEMI patients had maximal ox-LDL values and minimal levels of CD3+ T lymphocytes at admission, which was normalized during the recovery period. The increasing trend of CD3+ T cells was positively associated with an ox-LDL decline over time. CRP and cTnT longitudinal variations were negatively associated with the CD3+ T-cell increasing trend. These associations were not found in SA patients or controls. CONCLUSIONS: The associations found between CD3+ T lymphocytes, ox-LDL and cTnT suggest a specificity of the immune response in AMI towards arterial and myocardial inflammation and remodelling.
BACKGROUND: Auto-immune responses are associated with oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) release, a key factor in plaque destabilization. Data on the relationship between ox-LDL and T lymphocytes in human populations remains scarce. T cells also react with other molecules from the lesion and/or damage the myocardium. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between circulating T lymphocytes, ox-LDL, markers of myocardial necrosis (cTnT), myocardial dysfunction (N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide - NT-proBNP) and inflammation (C-reactive protein - CRP) in the setting of acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: A longitudinal study of 55 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were evaluated at three time points: admission, 2 and 40 days following admission, together with 30 patients with stable angina (SA) and 56 subjects without coronary artery disease serving as controls (CTR). RESULTS: STEMI patients had maximal ox-LDL values and minimal levels of CD3+ T lymphocytes at admission, which was normalized during the recovery period. The increasing trend of CD3+ T cells was positively associated with an ox-LDL decline over time. CRP and cTnT longitudinal variations were negatively associated with the CD3+ T-cell increasing trend. These associations were not found in SA patients or controls. CONCLUSIONS: The associations found between CD3+ T lymphocytes, ox-LDL and cTnT suggest a specificity of the immune response in AMI towards arterial and myocardial inflammation and remodelling.