Expression of polymorphonuclear leukocyte adhesion molecules and its clinical significance in patients treated with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Objectives. This study evaluated the role of neutrophil adhesion molecules LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18), Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) and p150,95 (CD11c/CD18) in patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Background. Several recent studies have suggested that cell adhesion molecules on both neutrophils and vascular endothelial cells play an important role in the process of tissue inflammation. Methods. Thirty-eight patients (30 men, 8 women; mean [±se]age 56 ± 5 years, range 38 to 76) with single-vessel coronary artery disease of the left anterior descending artery underwent coronary angioplasty. Peripheral blood was sampled at baseline before, immediately after and 12, 24, 48 and 144 h after PTCA. The expression of CD18, CD11a, CD11b and CD11c on the surface of polymorphonuclear leukocytes was examined by flow cytometry with monoclonal antibodies. Results. In patients without subsequent restenosis, there was no change in mean channel fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD18 at each sampling time. However, in the patients with restenosis, the MFI of CD18 significantly increased at 48 h after PTC (from 57 ± 6 to 73 ± 8, p = 0.0008). The MFI of CD11b increased slightly at 48 h after PTC in patients without restenosis (from 584 ± 121 to 735 ± 114, p = 0.037). In patients with restenosis, the MFI of CD11b was slightly increased at 24 h after PTC (from 586 ± 122 to 768 ± 214, p = 0.018) and significantly increased at 48 h after PTC (to 1,534 ± 268, p = 0.0006). The expression of CD11 and CD11c did not change at any sampling points after PTC in either of the two patient groups. Percent change in the expression of CD18 at 48 h after PTC (from baseline) and that of CD11b were correlated (r = 0.73, p = 0.0008) in patients with restenosis. Conclusions. Inflammatory stimuli within the coronary vessels associated with coronary angioplasty may upregulate Mac-1 expression on the surface of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. This process may be more marked in patients who experience later restenosis. Thus, activation of neutrophil adhesion molecule Mac-1 at 48 h after PTC may have value as predictor of subsequent restenosis.