Ischaemia-induced up-regulation of Toll-like receptor 2 in circulating monocytes in cardiogenic shock.

Aims: To investigate the role of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) in uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and in cardiogenic shock (CS).

Methods And Results: In patients with uncomplicated AMI (n = 20), CS (n = 30) and in age-matched healthy controls (HC; n = 20), TLR2 expression on monocytes was assessed by flow cytometry. Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin-6 (IL6) expression in monocytes was analysed by intracellular cytokine staining.

Rosuvastatin induces apoptosis in CD4(+)CD28 (null) T cells in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Aims: CD4(+)CD28(null) cells represent an aggressive and long-living T cell subpopulation, capable of infiltrating atheromatous plaque, leading to destabilisation and resulting in acute coronary syndromes (ACS). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether statins decrease the number of circulating CD4(+)CD28(null) T cells by apoptosis in patients with ACS.

Methods And Results: Patients with troponin-positive ACS (n = 35) without cholesterol lowering drugs were randomised to placebo (n = 17) or rosuvastatin 20 mg (n = 18) once daily for 6 weeks.