Objectives: We examined whether distinct monocyte subsets relate in specific ways to coronary fibrous cap thickness (FCT) in patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP).
Methods: Forty patients with UAP who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention were enrolled in this study. The changes in the non-culprit FCT were assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) at baseline and after 9 months. The distinct monocyte subsets (CD14+CD16-CCR2+ and CD14+CD16+CX3CR1+) were measured by flow cytometry.
Results: The percent change in FCT showed significantly negative correlation with the percent changes in CD14+CD16+CX3CR1+ monocytes, but not CD14+CD16-CCR2+ monocytes. In addition, the percent change in CD14+CD16+CX3CR1+ monocytes was significantly decreased in the group of patients who received statin treatment compared with the group of patients who did not. Of interest, there was a close relationship between CD14+CD16+CX3CR1+ monocytes and levels of C-reactive protein, but not lipid profiles, including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio.
Conclusions: CD14+CD16+CX3CR1+ monocytes may have a role in coronary plaque vulnerability.
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