Knoflach M, Kiechl S, Mayrl B, Kind M, Gaston JSH, van der Zee R, Faggionato A, Mayr A, Willeit J, Wick G. T-cell reactivity against HSP60 relates to early but not advanced atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis 2006;
195:333-8. [PMID:
17070529 DOI:
10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2006.09.021]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2006] [Revised: 09/15/2006] [Accepted: 09/27/2006] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Anti-heat-shock protein 60 (HSP60) antibody-levels have been linked to carotid atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk in a variety of studies. The potential role of cellular immune reactions against HSP60 has so far attracted little attention in epidemiological research.
METHODS AND RESULTS
In vitro T-cell reactivity to various HSP60s and tuberculin was assessed in blood samples from a elderly subpopulation of the Bruneck study (100 men, 50-69 years) and the young participants of the ARMY study (141 men, 17-18 years), and analyzed for a potential association with common carotoid artery intima-media thickness (IMT). In vivo skin reaction against tuberculin was recorded in subjects of the Bruneck study and correlated with the in vitro proliferative response to tuberculin (P=0.004). T-cells isolated from peripheral blood of all individuals proliferated upon stimulation with HSP60s. In multivariate linear regression analysis adjusted for standard risk factors, T-cell stimulation was significantly related to IMT in the ARMY (P=0.005 for human HSP60 and P=0.064 for mycobacterial HSP60) but not in the Bruneck study.
CONCLUSIONS
T-cell reactivity against HSP60s correlated with IMT in male youngsters but not in men aged 50 and over, indicating a more prominent role of specific cellular immunity to HSP60s in the young and very early stages of atherosclerosis.
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