Eosinophil Cationic Protein: A New Biomarker of Coronary Atherosclerosis.

Eosinophil count is positively correlated with coronary artery calcification

“…Emanuele et al 19 suggested that increased eotaxin levels, an eosinophil-specific chemoattractant, are associated with the presence of coronary artery disease and that circulating levels of this chemokine may reflect the extent of coronary atherosclerosis. Besides, Niccoli et al 20 reported the association between eosinophil cationic protein levels, a sensitive marker of eosinophil activation, with plaque growth but not with plaque instability. Eosinophil cationic protein upregulates ICAM-1 expression on endothelial cells 21 , allowing adhesion of monocytes on endothelium, which is known to be a fundamental step in atherogenesis.…”

Eosinophils: a new player in coronary atherosclerotic disease

“…Other evidence comes from a study by Erdogan et al, 12 in which the authors were able to find elevated levels of serum immunoglobulin E, basophils and eosinophils in coronary artery disease patients compared with healthy control subjects. Finally, Niccoli et al 13 recently showed that eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), a sensitive marker of eosinophil activation, is associated with coronary atherosclerosis and, when added to the main cardiovascular risk factors, improves the classification performance for the diagnosis of angiographically detectable coronary atherosclerosis among patients undergoing coronary angiography because of chest pain.…”

Biomarkers and Coronary Atherosclerotic Burden and Activity as Assessed by Coronary Angiography and Intra-Coronary Imaging Modalities

“…At multiple linear regression analysis, ECP levels independently predicted CAD severity (p=0.001), whereas CRP levels independently predicted lesion complexity (p=0.01). Taken together, these data suggest that ECP is a marker of CAD and that different inflammatory biomarkers reflect different phases of atherosclerotic plaque evolution (Niccoli et al, 2010). Further studies should address the role of ECP in CAD on larger study populations.…”

“…Several studies have shown that the measurement of ECP in most biological fluids may be used as a marker of eosinophil activity and turnover, and that increased ECP serum levels are related to the presence, activity and severity of asthma, atopic disorders, and other immune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and adult celiac disease (Hällgren et al, 1991). In this regard, the role of ECP in CAD has been recently assessed (Niccoli et al, 2010). Onehundred and ninety-eight consecutive anginal patients with angiographic evidence of CAD (stable angina or non-ST-elevation-ACS), or with angiographically normal coronary arteries were enrolled.…”