Activation of monocytes and cytokine production in patients with peripheral atherosclerosis obliterans

• Main Authors: Lastória Sidney, Calvi Sueli A, Dias-Melicio Luciane A, Corrêa Camila R, Soares Angela MVC
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2011-08-01
• Series: Journal of Inflammation
• Subjects: Peripheral arteriosclerosis obliterans; monocytes; cytokines; peripheral blood
• Online Access: http://www.journal-inflammation.com/content/8/1/23

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Arterial peripheral disease is a condition caused by the blocked blood flow resulting from arterial cholesterol deposits within the arms, legs and aorta. Studies have shown that macrophages in atherosclerotic plaque are highly activated, which makes these cells important antigen-presenting cells that develop a specific immune response, in which LDLox is the inducing antigen. As functional changes of cells which participate in the atherogenesis process may occur in the peripheral blood, the objectives of the present study were to evaluate plasma levels of anti-inflammatory and inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IFN-γ, interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10 and TGF-β in patients with peripheral arteriosclerosis obliterans, to assess the monocyte activation level in peripheral blood through the ability of these cells to release hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and to develop fungicidal activity against <it>Candida albicans (C. albicans) in vitro</it>.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β from plasma of patients were detected by ELISA. Monocyte cultures activated <it>in vitro </it>with TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma were evaluated by fungicidal activity against <it>C. albicans </it>by culture plating and Colony Forming Unit (CFU) recovery, and by H₂O₂production.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Plasma levels of all cytokines were significantly higher in patients compared to those detected in control subjects. Control group monocytes did not release substantial levels of H₂O₂<it>in vitro</it>, but these levels were significantly increased after activation with IFN-γ and TNF-α. Monocytes of patients, before and after activation, responded less than those of control subjects. Similar results were found when fungicidal activity was evaluated. The results seen in patients were always significantly smaller than among control subjects. <it>Conclusions: </it>The results revealed an unresponsiveness of patient monocytes <it>in vitro </it>probably due to the high activation process occurring <it>in vivo </it>as corroborated by high plasma cytokine levels.</p>