Local inflammation is associated with aortic thrombus formation in abdominal aortic aneurysms

Agnieszka Sagan; Wojciech Mrowiecki; Tomasz P. Mikolajczyk; Karol Urbanski; Mateusz Siedlinski; Ryszard Nosalski; Ryszard Korbut; Tomasz J. Guzik

doi:10.1160/TH12-05-0339

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Table of Contents

Thromb Haemost 2012; 108(05): 812-823
DOI: 10.1160/TH12-05-0339

Theme Issue Article

Schattauer GmbH

Local inflammation is associated with aortic thrombus formation in abdominal aortic aneurysms

Relationship to clinical risk factors

Authors

Agnieszka Sagan

¹Translational Medicine Laboratory, Department of Internal and Agricultural Medicine, Jagiellonian University School of Medicine, Kraków, Poland
Wojciech Mrowiecki

³Department of Surgery, J Grande Hospital, Kraków, Poland
Tomasz P. Mikolajczyk

¹Translational Medicine Laboratory, Department of Internal and Agricultural Medicine, Jagiellonian University School of Medicine, Kraków, Poland
Karol Urbanski

¹Translational Medicine Laboratory, Department of Internal and Agricultural Medicine, Jagiellonian University School of Medicine, Kraków, Poland
Mateusz Siedlinski

¹Translational Medicine Laboratory, Department of Internal and Agricultural Medicine, Jagiellonian University School of Medicine, Kraków, Poland
Ryszard Nosalski

¹Translational Medicine Laboratory, Department of Internal and Agricultural Medicine, Jagiellonian University School of Medicine, Kraków, Poland
Ryszard Korbut

²Department of Pharmacology, Jagiellonian University School of Medicine, Kraków, Poland
Tomasz J. Guzik

¹Translational Medicine Laboratory, Department of Internal and Agricultural Medicine, Jagiellonian University School of Medicine, Kraków, Poland

Abstract

Summary

Intraluminal thrombus formation in aortic abdominal aneurysms (AAA) is associated with adverse clinical prognosis. Interplay between coagulation and inflammation, characterised by leukocyte infiltration and cytokine production, has been implicated in AAA thrombus formation. We studied leukocyte (CD45+) content by flow cytometry in AAA thrombi from 27 patients undergoing surgical repair. Luminal parts of thrombi were leukocyte-rich, while abluminal segments showed low leukocyte content. CD66b+ granulocytes were the most prevalent, but their content was similar to blood. Monocytes (CD14+) and T cells (CD3+) were also abundant, while content of B lymphocytes (CD19+) and NK cells (CD56+CD16+) were low. Thrombi showed comparable content of CD14highCD16− monocytes and lower CD14highCD16+ and CD14dimCD16+, than blood. Monocytes were activated with high CD11b, CD11c and HLA-DR expression. Total T cell content was decreased in AAA thrombus compared to peripheral blood but CD8 and CD3+CD4-CD8− (double negative T cell) contents were increased in thrombi. CD4+ cells were lower but highly activated (high CD69, CD25 and HLA-DR). No differences in T regulatory (CD4+CD25+FoxP3+) cell or pro-atherogenic CD4+CD28null lymphocyte content were observed between thrombi and blood. Thrombus T cells expressed high levels of CCR5 receptor for chemokine RANTES, commonly released from activated platelets. Leukocyte or T cell content in thrombi was not correlated with aneurysm size. However, CD3+ content was significantly associated with smoking in multivariate analysis taking into account major risk factors for atherosclerosis. In conclusion, intraluminal AAA thrombi are highly inflamed, predominantly with granulocytes, CD14highCD16− monocytes and activated T lymphocytes. Smoking is associated with T cell infiltration in AAA intraluminal thrombi.

Keywords

Thrombus - aortic abdominal aneurysm - inflammation - monocyte - T cell

Full Text

References

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