Plasma concentrations of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and neopterin in the coronary circulation of patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND

The dynamics of MCP-1 and neopterin and the relation between their concentrations in coronary circulation and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis were evaluated in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Blood samples were obtained from the aortic root (Ao) and coronary sinus (CS) of 78 patients who underwent coronary angiography. Plasma MCP-1 and neopterin concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method and the CS-Ao differences were calculated. The severity of coronary heart disease (CHD) was evaluated in 52 patients who had no history of coronary angioplasty, using 3 coronary scoring systems: the clinical 1- to 3-vessel disease score, the American Heart Association extension score (1-15 segments), and the Gensini score. The plasma MCP-1 and neopterin concentrations increased significantly with age. The CS-Ao differences for neopterin showed weak, but significant, positive correlation with the Gensini score (r=0.347, p=0.013). There were no correlations among the MCP-1 concentrations in the Ao or CS, or in the CS-Ao difference, with the severity of CHD.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that neopterin is a useful marker of the severity of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with stable CAD, acting as an index of the activity of monocytes/macrophages.