The role of platelets CD40 ligand (CD154) in acute coronary syndromes

Abu El-Makrem, Mona A.; Mahmoud, Yehia Z.; Sayed, Douaa; Nassef, Noussa M.; Abd El-Kader, Samir S.; Zakhary, Madiha; Ghazaly, Taghreed; Matta, Ragaa

doi:10.1016/j.thromres.2009.06.028

« Previous Next »Thrombosis Research
Volume 124, Issue 6 , Pages 683-688, December 2009

The role of platelets CD40 ligand (CD154) in acute coronary syndromes

Mona A. Abu El-Makrem
- Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, El-Minia University, Egypt
Yehia Z. Mahmoud
- Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, El-Minia University, Egypt
Douaa Sayed
- Flow Cytometry Lab., Clinical Pathology Department, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Egypt
- Corresponding author. Clinical Pathology Department, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. Tel.: +20 106261987; fax: +20 2/88/2333342.
Noussa M. Nassef
- Flow Cytometry Lab., Clinical Pathology Department, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Egypt
Samir S. Abd El-Kader
- Coronary Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt
Madiha Zakhary
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt
Taghreed Ghazaly
- Flow Cytometry Lab., Clinical Pathology Department, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Egypt
Ragaa Matta
- Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, El-Minia University, Egypt

Received 17 March 2009; received in revised form 25 June 2009; accepted 30 June 2009.

Abstract

Background

Despite of the proof of the biological function of CD154 on platelets, there has been little information about its role either in patients with stable angina or in those with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the expression of CD154 on platelets and its role in ACS.

Methods

The study included 50 patients with ACS (24 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and 26 patients with unstable angina (UA)), 20 patients with stable angina (SA) and 18 healthy volunteers. CD154 and CD62 expression on platelets were analyzed by flow cytometry. Their relations to the clinical and laboratory data were assessed in the studied group.

Results

Patients with AMI and UA had higher levels of platelets CD154 and CD62 as compared to those with SA and among patients with AMI, UA and SA versus healthy volunteers. Platelets CD154 showed significant positive correlations with the studied pro-inflammatory markers (Ox-LDL, CRP and fibrinogen), segmental wall motion score and the studied risk factors. There were significant negative correlations between platelet CD154 and serum nitric oxide among patients.

Conclusions

CD154 may be used as a marker of thrombo-embolic events. Nitric oxide may have an anti-atherogenic effect. There is an association between platelet activation and severity of coronary artery disease among patients with ACS.

Abbreviations: ACS, Acute coronary syndrome, ECs, endothelial cells, SMCs, smooth muscle cells, CD40L, CD40 ligand, CAD, coronary artery disease, AMI, acute myocardial infarction, UA, unstable angina, SA, stable angina, BMI, body mass index, WHR, waist hip ratio, SWMSI, segmental wall motion score index, C-RP, C-reactive protein, Ox-LDL, oxidized low density lipoprotein level, NO, serum nitric oxide, GMFI, geometric mean fluorescence intensity