Circulating monocyte populations in patients with coronary atherosclerosis.

The authors examined the phenotype of circulating monocytes in patients with coronary atherosclerosis depending on age. A total of 121 patients were categorized into three groups according to the severity of coronary atherosclerosis assessed by angiography and into two groups depending on age above/below the median 60.0 (range: 56.0-66.0). Classical CD14++CD16-, intermediate CD14++CD16+ and non-classical CD14+CD16+ monocytes were analyzed via direct immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. In patients >60 years of age, the severity of atherosclerosis was associated with the decreased number of classical monocytes in the blood. In patients under 60 years of age, this relationship was not observed. The authors hypothesize that the contribution of different subtypes of blood monocytes to the development of atherosclerosis may vary with age.