Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) is a nuclear hormone receptor and may regulate the metabolism of lipids, inhibit monocytes/macrophages function and reduce the production of cell adhesion molecules and some inflammatory factors. Thus, it may affect the occurrence and progression of atherosclerosis.
Methods: Forty-three patients with acute coronary syndrome and 34 control subjects were studied for PPARgamma expression in peripheral blood monocytes by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and adhesion molecules were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results: Expression of PPARgamma in peripheral blood monocytes was significantly reduced in acute coronary syndrome, which was inversely associated with intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (r=-0.339, P<0.05), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (r=-0.331, P<0.05) and body mass index (r=-0.334, P<0.05), respectively, and positively correlated with apoA1 (r=0.289, P<0.05).
Conclusions: The reduced expression of PPARgamma in peripheral blood monocytes of patients with acute coronary syndrome is inversely associated with plasma soluble adhesion molecules, suggesting that PPARgamma may be involved in acute coronary syndrome.