Oxidative metabolism of neutrophils in acute coronary syndrome.

Abstract

Inflammation in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) involves neutrophil activation and oxidative stress. Here, we studied the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by neutrophils in ACS. The study included 42 patients, men and women aged 46-91 years with ischaemic heart disease (IHD), non-ST-segment elevation ACS and ST-segment elevation ACS. Neutrophil-derived ROS were quantified with double-step stimulated luminol-enhanced chemiluminometry. The specific indices of spontaneous and double-step stimulated chemiluminescence did not differ in the subgroups of IHD, non-ST-segment elevation ACS and ST-segment elevation ACS. The total double-step stimulated ROS production by neutrophils was significantly higher in ST-segment elevation ACS than in non-ST-segment elevation ACS and IHD. In ACS, special activation mechanisms of peripherical neutrophils were not triggered in our study. The significant increase in free radical production by neutrophils in acute myocardial infarction was presumably a consequence of an increase in their number.