Increased granzyme B production from peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To clarify the role of granzyme B in acute coronary syndrome.

DESIGN AND SETTING:

Granzyme B is a member of the serine esterase family released from cytotoxic lymphocytes and plays an important role in cellular apoptosis by activating intracellular caspases. Granzyme B expression was compared between patients with stable and unstable angina pectoris (UAP).

PATIENTS:

173 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) were enrolled. 84 patients were found to have stable angina pectoris (SAP) and 89 patients to have UAP.

METHODS:

Peripheral blood was drawn from the patients. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated by gradient centrifugation were cultured at a density of 2x106 cells/ml for 24 hours. The supernatants were collected 24 hours after incubation and the granzyme B level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Polychromic flow cytometric analysis was performed to evaluate the expression of granzyme B in the cells.

RESULTS:

Granzyme B production from PBMCs of UAP patients was significantly higher than from those of patients with SAP (39.1 (SEM 6.6) versus 17.0 (SEM 1.8) pg/ml, p<0.05). Granzyme B production from PBMCs increased with the increasing TIMI risk score in UAP patients. The percentage of granzyme B-positive lymphocytes to CD3-positive lymphocytes in UAP patients was significantly higher than in SAP (32.1% (SEM 1.6%) versus 18.4% (SEM 0.9%), p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS:

These results suggest that granzyme B might play an important role in triggering acute coronary events by inducing apoptosis and the degradation of atherosclerotic coronary plaques.

• Authors: R Tsuru, H Kondo, Y Hojo, M Gama, O Mizuno, T Katsuki, K Shimada, M Kikuchi, T Yashiro
• Journal: Heart (British Cardiac Society) (Heart) Vol. 94 Issue 3 Pg. 305-10 (Mar 2008) ISSN: 1468-201X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 17591646 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Granzymes

Topics

• Acute Coronary Syndrome (enzymology, mortality)
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Angina Pectoris (enzymology, mortality)
• Angina, Unstable (enzymology, mortality)
• Apoptosis (physiology)
• Coronary Disease (enzymology, mortality)
• Female
• Flow Cytometry (methods)
• Granzymes (biosynthesis)
• Humans
• Leukocytes, Mononuclear (enzymology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Risk Assessment