Study On The Role And Mechanism Of CXCL16 In Atherosclerosis

PartⅠ. Circulating CXCL16 is related to the severity of coronary artery stenosis.Objective:To investigate the relationship between CXCL16 and the severity of coronary artery stenosis and the clinical implications.Methods:Using ELISA we assayed the plasma CXCL16 concentration in stable angina pectoris patients (SAP), acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients and control patients. They were divided into four groups according to the quartile of CXCL16 Level. The characters and the relationship between CXCL16 and the elements were studied in every group.Results:CXCL16 levels in ACS group were higher than controls and SAP group, (P<0.01 vs controls; P<0.05 vs SAP group). Gensini score in the higest quartile group of CXCL16 level (groupⅣ, CXCL16>2.21ng/ml) was significantly higher than that in the lowest quartile group of CXCL16 level(groupⅠ, CXCL16≤1.43ng/ml), (P<0.001). Gensini score in groupⅡ(1.43 ng/ml0.05). The lumen stenosis degree and intima/media ratio of Lv.CXCL16 group were moderately higher than the control group, however, there were no statistical significance (p> 0.05). But, in the CXCL16 overexpression group,86% of the lesions displayed features of a vulnerable plaque morphology as compared with only 27% in the control. MMP3, MMP9, MMP13, CCL2 and VCAM-1 mRNA expression in carotids of Lv.CXCL16 group was much higher than control (p<0.05), but no statistical significance was found in TNF-αbetween these two groups (p=0.29).Conclusion:Systemic CXCL16 becomes much higher in atherosclerosis, and it could be a potential atherogenic biomarker. Overexpression of CXCL16 promotes the evolution of preexisting lesions to vulnerable plaques in ApoE KO mice.