Strenuous physical exercise induces monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 release in patients with coronary artery disease

Abstract

Infiltration of the arterial vessel wall with monocytes is one of the initial inflammatory events. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is the key chemokine for the recruitment of monocytes to the atherosclerotic lesion. So far, it is unknown, if strenuous exercise enhances or reduces the release of MCP-1, the key initiator of pro-atherosclerotic inflammatory events in patients at risk for atherosclerotic diseases. 15 Patients with at least three coronary risk factors (CRF) like smoking, hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and overweight and 17 corresponding healthy controls were tested with bicycle ergometry. Additionally, 8 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) were investigated. Before and 10 minutes after maximal exercise, venous blood was taken and MCP-1 serum levels were analyzed. Furthermore, we measured monocyte CD11b expression by flow cytometry. Independently of CRF, the MCP-1 serum level was significantly increased after exercise. In control subjects the MCP-1 serum level rose from 71 pg/ml to 94 pg/ml (p≤0.05). In patients with CRF the MCP1 serum level went up from 154 pg/ml to 224 pg/ml (p≤0.05). Patients with coronary artery disease had elevated MCP-1 serum levels before and after exercise, too, even if they did not have CRF (143 vs. 174 pg/ml; p≤0.05). The monocyte activation parameter CD11b showed a significant raise after physical exercise (relative fluorescence intensity 31 vs. 44; p≤0.05). These data indicate, that MCP-1 serum levels are elevated after physical exercise especially in patients at risk for coronary artery disease. These effects may in part result from an increased monocyte activation following strenuous physical exercise.