Association of monocyte subset counts with coronary fibrous cap thickness in patients with unstable angina pectoris

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. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.