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*
1   Department of Medicine II and Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
,
Gunnar H. Heine*
2   Department of Medicine IV, University of the Saarland, Homburg/Saar, Germany
,
Stefan Blankenberg
1   Department of Medicine II and Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
,
Christine Espinola-Klein
1   Department of Medicine II and Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
,
Joern F. Dopheide
1   Department of Medicine II and Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
,
Christoph Bickel
1   Department of Medicine II and Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
,
Karl J. Lackner
1   Department of Medicine II and Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
,
Mete Iz
1   Department of Medicine II and Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
,
Juergen Meyer
1   Department of Medicine II and Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
,
Harald Darius
1   Department of Medicine II and Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
,
Hans J. Rupprecht
1   Department of Medicine II and Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 14 February 2004

Accepted after resubmission 16 April 2004

Publication Date:
30 November 2017 (online)

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.

* Both authors contributed equally to the submitted work


 
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