Down regulation of CD11b and CD18 expression in children with hypercholesterolemia: A preliminary report

Martino, F.; Martino, E.; Iacobini, M.; Ferrara, E.; Pacifico, L.; Noto, D.; Cefalu, A.B.; Averna, M.; Chiesa, C.

doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2008.05.001

« Previous Next »Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases
Volume 19, Issue 2 , Pages 105-109, February 2009

Down regulation of CD11b and CD18 expression in children with hypercholesterolemia: A preliminary report

F. Martino
- Center of Clinic Lipid Research, Department of Pediatrics, La Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Corresponding author. Tel./fax: +39 06 49979272.
E. Martino
- Center of Clinic Lipid Research, Department of Pediatrics, La Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
M. Iacobini
- Department of Pediatrics, La Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
E. Ferrara
- Department of Pediatrics, La Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
L. Pacifico
- Department of Pediatrics, La Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
D. Noto
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Emerging Diseases, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
A.B. Cefalu
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Emerging Diseases, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
M. Averna
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Emerging Diseases, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
C. Chiesa
- National Research Council, Rome, Italy

Received 25 January 2008; received in revised form 30 April 2008; accepted 14 May 2008. published online 04 August 2008.

Abstract

Background and aim

Cell adhesion molecules play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis mediating the attachment of monocytes to the endothelium. The aim of our study was to assess the cell surface expression of CD11b/CD18 integrin on the phagocytes of children affected by hypercholesterolemia.

Methods and Results

Twenty-six children with hypercholesterolemia (15 males, mean age 8.3, range 2–18) with a family history of early cardiovascular disease, as well as 26 children with normocholesterolemia matched for gender and age (15 males, mean age 8.3) were studied. Cell surface expression of CD11b/CD18 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were analyzed by flow cytometry. The geometric mean percentages of CD11b and CD18 expression were significantly lower in the hypercholesterolemic group [52 (95% confidence intervals, 40–68) and 88 (84–93)] than in the control group [87 (83–91), P<0.0001 and 93 (89–96), P<0.05], respectively. After correction for age, gender, and pubertal status, CD11b cell surface expression on PBMC was inversely and independently correlated with total cholesterol concentrations (r=−0.395; P<0.01) and LDL (r=−0.307; P<0.05), as well as with triglycerides (r=−0.406; P<0.01).

Conclusions

In children with hypercholesterolemia, cell surface expression of CD11b and CD18 on PBMC was significantly decreased. Follow-up studies are necessary to determine the clinical implications of these findings in the context of the natural course and progression of atherosclerosis in high risk children.

Keywords: CD11b/CD18, Hypercholesterolemia, Atherosclerosis, Children