Transcriptional activity of tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with coronary slow flow

BACKGROUND: Coronary slow flow (CSF), an angiographic phenomenon that is characterized by a delayed coronary blood flow in the absence of obstructive coronary artery stenosis, is known as a disorder of the coronary microcirculation. Inflammation has an important role in the vascular hemostasis and endothelial dysfunction especially regarding monocyte adhesion and infiltration. Pro-inflammatory cytokines released by inflammatory cells result in endothelial cell dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases. It has been demonstrated that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) mainly influences the vascular homeostasis and endothelial dysfunction. In the present enquiry the transcriptional activity of TNF-α gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with CSF was compared with healthy controls in order to further survey the role of TNF-α in pathophysiology of CSF. METHODS: The study was carried out on 30 patients with CSF and 30 matched healthy controls. To analysis gene expression of TNF-α, total mRNA was isolated from PBMCs. The quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to compare the transcriptional activity of TNF-α gene between patients with CSF and controls. RESULTS: The mean ± standard error of mean of fold in CSF patients and controls were 0.20 ± 0.04 and 1.38 ± 0.27, respectively. The mRNA mean expressions of TNF-α (fold) were different in tested groups, which indicated a significant decrease in TNF-α in patients with CSF group (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Expression of TNF-α was decreased in patients with CSF. Changes in TNF-α expression suggest a potential role for altered immune function in the pathophysiology of CSF.