Increased serum levels and expression of S100A8/A9 complex in infiltrated neutrophils in atherosclerotic plaque of unstable angina

Background: The S100A8/A9 complex is expressed in a subset of activated neutrophils and macrophages in acute inflammatory lesions associated with various diseases. Objective: To investigate (a) whether serum S100A8/A9 levels are increased in patients with unstable angina (UA); and (b) whether S100A8/A9 expression is upregulated in coronary atherosclerotic plaques of patients with UA. Design: Serum S100A8/A9 levels in 39 patients with stable angina (SA) and 53 patients with UA were measured. In addition, the presence of the S100A8/A9 complex in directional coronary atherectomy specimens was studied immunohistochemically. Cell types which stain positive for S100A8/A9 were identified by immunodouble staining with neutrophils and macrophages. Results: Mean (SD) serum S100A8/A9 levels were significantly higher in patients with UA than in those with SA (3.25(3.08) mu g/ml vs 0.77 (0.31) mu g/ml, p < 0.05). In patients with UA, immunodouble staining clearly showed that the S100A8/A9 complex was expressed in infiltrated neutrophils and occasional macrophages. The S100A8/A9-positive area was significantly higher in UA than in SA (mean (SD) 18.3 (14.2)% vs 1.3 (2.4)%, respectively, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The S100A8/A9 complex may be involved in the inflammatory process of coronary atherosclerotic plaques in patients with UA.