Angina Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Angina, including details on symptoms, treatment, causes, prevention, surgery.

Association between Toll-like receptors and the extent and severity of coronary artery disease in patients with stable angina.

Mizoguchi E, Orihara K, Hamasaki S, Ishida S, Kataoka T, Ogawa M, Saihara K, Okui H, Fukudome T, Shinsato T, Shirasawa T, Ichiki H, Kubozono T, Ninomiya Y, Otsuji Y, Tei C

Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory & Metabolic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.

OBJECTIVES: Toll-like receptors mediate the innate immune response triggered by pathogen-associated molecular patterns, and atherosclerosis can be considered a state of chronic inflammation whereby immune system cells accumulate within the intima of the arterial wall. The goal of this study was to determine the relation of Toll-like receptors to the extent and severity of coronary artery disease. METHODS: Angiographic vessel score and Gensini score were used to evaluate the extent and severity of coronary atherosclerosis. Sixty-two consecutive patients with stable angina were grouped as follows: those with insignificant (<50%) coronary stenosis (group 1), and those with 1 (group 2), 2 (group 3), or 3-vessel disease (group 4). The expression of Toll-like receptor 1, 2, and 4 on circulating CD14+ monocytes was analyzed by flow-cytometry in all patients. RESULTS: Toll-like receptor 2 had a positive correlation with the vessel score and Gensini score (r=0.46, P<0.001; r=0.32, P<0.02, respectively). Toll-like receptor 4 also positively correlated with the vessel score and Gensini score (r=0.47, P<0.001; r=0.29, P<0.05, respectively). No significant correlation existed between the expression of Toll-like receptor 1 and the vessel score or Gensini score. Further, there was no significant correlation between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and the vessel score or Gensini score. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that Toll-like receptor 2 and 4 expression correlates with the extent and severity of coronary artery disease.

Published 18 December 2006 in Coron Artery Dis, 18(1): 31-8.
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