Inflammation, endothelial cell activation, and coronary microvascular dysfunction in women with chest pain and no obstructive coronary artery disease.

Background: Coronary artery microvascular dysfunction is prevalent in women with chest pain in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) and is manifested by attenuated coronary flow reserve (CFR). Markers of inflammation and endothelial cell activation have been found to be elevated in patients with chest pain but without CAD. The relationship between inflammation, endothelial activation, and CFR is not known.

A novel epitope of N-CAM defines precursors of human adherent NK cells.

Activated, adherent natural killer (A-NK) cells represent a distinct subpopulation of interleukin (IL)-2-stimulated NK cells, which are selectively endowed with the increased expression of integrins and ability to adhere to solid surfaces, migrate into, infiltrate, and destroy cancerous tissues. The present study defines the phenotype and functions of precursors of A-NK (pre-A-NK) cells in humans. Peripheral blood pre-A-NK cells, in contrast to the rest of NK cells, express a novel epitope of CD56 neuronal cell adhesion molecule, termed ANK-1, and increased cell-surface levels of integrins.