Leukocyte and leukocyte subset counts reveal compensatory mechanisms in coronary heart disease

Background: Leukocyte number in the circulation plays a central role in inflammatory diseases, such as coronary heart disease (CHD). Increased counts are correlated with the intensity of the pen-infarction inflammatory response and adverse outcomes. We investigated leukocyte and leukocyte subset counts in dyslipidaemia patients and their relationship with LDL oxidation. Methods: Dyslipidaemia patients (207) were selected for blood counts and LDL-C testing. The level of HNP-1 and myeloperoxidase in subsets of leukocytes and their relationship with LDL oxidation were compared between 24 CHD patients and 24 normal controls. Results: In dyslipidaemia patients, total leukocyte and neutrophil counts increased with LDL-C (p=0.001). Monocyte counts showed the opposite trend (p=0.001). Although serum HNP-1 levels were not different between CHD patients and normal controls (p=0558), neutrophil HNP-1 mRNA levels were 2.13-fold greater than those of normal controls. However, monocyte HNP-1 mRNA levels were lower (p=0.005). The distribution of myeloperoxidase in monocytes and neutrophils is different, myeloperoxidase locates mainly in the cytoplasm of monocytes, on the cell membrane of neutrophils. Conclusions: Leukocyte and leukocyte subset counts may correlate with LDL-C levels and LDL oxidation. The monocyte-neutrophil interaction reveals a potential compensatory mechanism associated with LDL oxidation in CHD that may be a prognostic factor of CHD. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.