Soluble Fas ligand is associated with natural killer cell dynamics in coronary artery disease.

Objective: Apoptosis of natural killer (NK) cells is increased in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and may explain why NK cell levels are altered in these patients. Soluble forms of Fas and Fas ligand (L) are considered as markers of apoptosis. Here, we investigated whether plasma levels of Fas and FasL were associated with NK cell apoptosis and NK cell levels in CAD patients.

Persistent accumulation of interferon-γ-producing CD8+CD56+ T cells in blood from patients with coronary artery disease.

Objective: There is emerging evidence for CD8(+) T cell alterations in blood from patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We examined whether the distribution and phenotype of CD8(+)CD56(+) T cells differed according to the clinical manifestation of CAD.

Methods: Patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS, n = 30), stable angina (SA, n = 34) and controls (n = 36) were included.

Expansions of CD4+CD28- and CD8+CD28- T cells in granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis are associated with cytomegalovirus infection but not with disease activity.

Objective: T helper cells lacking CD28 (CD4+CD28-) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener; GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). Expansions of CD4+CD28- and CD8+CD28- T cells have also been associated with latent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. We assessed these T cells with and without coexpression of CD56 and CD57 in relation to vasculitis as well as CMV status.

Lymphocyte subpopulations in lymph nodes and peripheral blood: a comparison between patients with stable angina and acute coronary syndrome.

Objective: Atherosclerosis is characterized by a chronic inflammatory response involving activated T cells and impairment of natural killer (NK) cells. An increased T cell activity has been associated with plaque instability and risk of acute cardiac events. Lymphocyte analyses in blood are widely used to evaluate the immune status.

B cell abnormalities in Wegener's granulomatosis and microscopic polyangiitis: role of CD25+-expressing B cells.

Objective: The use of rituximab in vasculitis has increased interest in B cell biology. A subpopulation of B cells expressing CD25 shows antigen-presenting properties and may have regulatory functions. We assessed subpopulations of B cell maturation (Bm) and markers related to activity and antigen presentation, and related the findings to disease activity.

NK cell apoptosis in coronary artery disease: relation to oxidative stress.

Objective: Natural killer (NK) cells, key elements in initiation and modulation of immune responses, were recently found to be reduced in coronary artery disease (CAD). To clarify mechanisms behind this reduction, we here investigated NK cell apoptosis in CAD patients. Since oxidative stress has been linked to NK cell apoptosis, we related the findings to oxidative stress in vivo and evaluated the ex vivo susceptibility of NK cells to oxidized lipids.

Biological and methodological variation of lymphocyte subsets in blood of human adults.

Although lymphocyte populations are often monitored over time, information about the biological variation over time is limited. Three-colour-flow cytometry was used to investigate the biological and methodological variation of lymphocyte populations in blood. Fifteen healthy individuals (11 females and 4 males) were longitudinally monitored for 2-8 years.

Loss of natural killer cell activity in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Natural killer (NK) cells are important components of the innate immune system and have a potential role in the regulation of autoimmunity. In the present study, we evaluated the NK cells in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and related the findings to clinical and laboratory parameters of the disease.

Methods And Results: We studied 45 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), 50 patients with stable angina and angiographically verified CAD (SA) and 50 healthy controls.