Roles of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, RANTES and Fractalkine on promoting vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To elucidate the roles of monocyte chemotactic factors (MCP-1, RANTES and Fractalkine) on the vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques in patients with stable (SAP) and unstable angina pectoris (UAP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients with SAP (n = 50) and UAP (n = 50) underwent coronary angiography (CAG) and intravenous ultrasound (IVUS) were included in the study. Monocyte chemotaxis was assayed by the transwell chamber. Concentrations of hs-CRP, MCP-1, RANTES and Fractalkine were measured by Enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA). mRNA expression of MCP-1, RANTES and Fractalkine in the monocytes was detected by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>IVUS evidenced soft lipid plaques in 48% UAP patients and in 16% SAP patients (P < 0.05). SAP patients had mainly fibrous and mixed plaques. Plaque burden and vascular remodeling index were significantly higher in UAP patients than in SAP patients (P < 0.01). The averaged number of migrated monocytes in the UAP patients were higher than that in patients with SAP (P < 0.01). Concentration of hs-CRP, MCP-1, RANTES and Fractalkine were significantly higher in UAP patients than those of SAP patients (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). mRNA expression of MCP-1, RANTES and Fractalkine in patients with UAP was significantly higher than those of SAP patients (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Upregulated monocyte chemotactic factors (MCP-1, RANTES and Fractalkine) might promote coronary plaque vulnerability in UAP patients.</p>

Two novel mutations of GLA gene in Chinese patients with Fabry disease / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the disease-causing GLA gene mutations in Chinese patients with Fabry disease and the correlation between the genotype and phenotype.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>DNA from 2 Chinese patients with Fabry disease and their relatives were collected. The seven exons and nonjunctional regions of GLA gene were amplified with polymerase chain reaction and the products were sequenced. The correlation between the genotype and phenotype was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Two mutations, G1168A and G1170A, located in 5' untranslated regions (5'UTR) were identified in the two probands and the two mutations were absent in normal controls. Three patients with the same genotype were found in the pedigree with G1168A mutation and there was no gene mutation carrier in the pedigree with G1170A mutation. Symptoms of the disease are less in female patients than that in male patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GLA gene mutation in 5'UTR may also be involved in the disease process of patients with Fabry disease and the phenotype is partly affected by gender.</p>