Changes of OX40 ligand expression in patients with acute coronary syndromes

AIM: To investigate the changes of OX40 ligand expression on monocytes and serum soluble OX40 ligand in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS).METHODS: The present study included healthy controls (n=30), patients with stable angina (SA, n=40) and patients with ACS, including unstable angina (UA, n=50) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI, n=30). The expression of OX40L on platelets was analyzed with flow cytometry and serum level of soluble OX40L (sOX40L) was determined with ELISA.RESULTS: The expression of OX40L on monocytes and serum level of sOX40L were significantly higher in patients with UA and AMI compared to healthy controls and patients with SA. In patients with AMI, sOX40L levels showed no significant increase when compared to patients with UA, while AMI patients had a peak level of sOX40L at 24 h after AMI. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) induced a marked rise in sOX40L levels in all patients. However, OX40L expression on monocytes showed no difference between patients with PTCA, before and after operation.CONCLUSION: The expression of OX40L may participate the mechanism of ACS and represent a marker for the activity of coronary disease.