Association between CD8+ T‐cell subsets and cardiovascular disease. (22nd February 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kolbus, D.; Ljungcrantz, I.; Andersson, L.; Hedblad, B.; Fredrikson, G. N.; Björkbacka, H.; Nilsson, J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of internal medicine. Volume 274:Number 1(2013:Jul.)
• Page Start: 41
• Page End: 51
• Publication Date: 2013-02-22
• Subjects: Internal medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1111/joim.12038
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-6820

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en" id="joim12038-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="joim12038-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>The findings of experimental studies suggest that the immune system plays a key role in atherosclerosis, but the clinical importance of different immune cells in cardiovascular disease remains poorly characterized. In this study we investigated the association between CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells and carotid disease as well as development of cardiovascular disease events.</p> </sec> <sec id="joim12038-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>The study cohort comprised 700 subjects from the cardiovascular arm of the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells, obtained at the 1991–1994 baseline investigation and stored at −140 °C, were thawed and the different CD8<sup>+</sup> T‐cell populations analysed by flow cytometry. Baseline carotid intima–media thickness and stenosis were assessed by ultrasonography and clinical events were monitored through validated national registers.</p> </sec> <sec id="joim12038-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Subjects with a high fraction of CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells were characterized by decreased cytokine release from activated leucocytes, metabolic signs of insulin resistance and increased incidence of coronary events; hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the second and third tertiles of CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells were 2.57 (1.16, 5.67) and 2.61 (1.19, 5, 71), respectively, in a Cox proportional hazards regression model. Correlations were found between the fraction of CD8<sup>+</sup>CD25<sup>+</sup> T cells and the degree of carotid stenosis (<italic>r</italic> = 0.11, <italic>P </italic>< 0.01), and between the CD8<sup>+</sup>CD56<sup>−</sup>IFN‐γ<sup>+</sup> T‐cell fraction and the degree of stenosis (<italic>r</italic> = −0.18, <italic>P </italic>< 0.005). The association between CD8<sup>+</sup>CD56<sup>−</sup>IFN‐γ<sup>+</sup> T cells and carotid stenosis remained significant after controlling for major cardiovascular disease risk factors.</p> </sec> <sec id="joim12038-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>This study provides prospective clinical evidence for a role of CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells in cardiovascular disease and suggests the existence of CD8<sup>+</sup> T‐cell subsets with different pathological functions.</p> </sec> </abstract>