Background: Regulatory T (Treg) cells play a protective role in atherosclerosis prone models and are related to the onset of acute coronary syndromes (ACS, including non-ST-elevation ACS (NSTEACS) and ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEAMI)). CD4+LAP+ Treg cells are a novel subset of Tregs that have been found to ameliorate atherosclerosis in ApoE(-/-) mice, and these cells also exist in humans. The present study was designed to investigate whether CD4+LAP+ Treg cells are involved in the onset of ACS.
Methods: The frequencies of CD4+LAP+ and CD4+CD25+ Treg cells were detected using flow cytometric analysis, and the plasma IL-10 and TGF- β 1 levels were measured using an ELISA in 29 stable angina (SA) patients, 30 NSTEACS patients, 27 STEAMI patients, and a control group (30 cases).
Results: The results revealed a significant decrease in the frequencies of CD4+LAP+ and CD4+CD25+ Treg cells and in the levels of IL-10 and TGF- β 1 in patients with ACS compared with those in the SA and control groups.
Conclusions: The decrease in the frequencies of CD4+LAP+ and CD4+CD25+ Treg cells may play a role in the onset of ACS.