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) μg/ml vs 0.77 (0.31) μg/ml, p Conclusions: The S100A8/A9 complex may be involved in the inflammatory process of coronary atherosclerotic plaques in patients with UA.