White blood cell subsets are associated with carotid intima-media thickness and pulse wave velocity in an older Chinese population: the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study

Abstract

Cross-sectional associations between white blood cell (WBC) count, lymphocyte and granulocyte numbers, and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and brachialankle pulse wave velocity (PWV) were examined in a novel older Chinese community sample. A total of 817 men and 760 women from a sub-study of the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study had a full blood count measured by an automated hematology analyzer, carotid IMT by B-mode ultrasonography and brachial-ankle PWV by a non-invasive automatic waveform analyzer. Following adjustment for confounders, WBC count (b ¼ 0.07, Po0.001) and granulocyte (b ¼ 0.07, Po0.001) number were significantly positively related to PWV, but not lymphocyte number. Similarly, WBC count (b ¼ 0.08, P ¼ 0.03), lymphocyte (b ¼ 0.08, P ¼ 0.002) and granulocyte (b ¼ 0.03, P ¼ 0.04) number were significantly positively associated with carotid IMT, but only the association with lymphocyte count survived correction for other cardiovascular risk factors. In conclusion, higher WBC, particularly lymphocyte and granulocyte, count could be used, respectively, as markers of cardiovascular disease risk, measured through indicators of atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness. The associations for WBC count previously observed by others were likely driven by higher granulocytes; an index of systemic inflammation.

Leukocyte Subtype Counts and Its Association with Vascular Structure and Function in Adults with Intermediate Cardiovascular Risk. MARK Study

“…The relation between the ba-PWV with the leukocyte subtype counts is not clear. In the same line as our results, Kavousiet al [ 4 ] found that ba-PWV was not correlated with monocyte count, whereas Phillips et al [ 11 ] found that leukocyte count (β = 0.07; p < 0.001) and granulocyte number (β = 0.07; p < 0.001) were significantly positively related to ba-PWV in a Chinese population, but not lymphocyte number. Bearing in mind these opposite results, it is considered as necessary to carry out more prospective studies in order to elucidate the association between ba-PWV and leukocyte subtype counts and the differences that could be observed in each gender.…”

“…Several studies have demonstrated that neutrophils have an important role in the atherosclerosis development in the general population [ 10 , 43 ] and in men [ 7 ]. The monocytes are correlated with the IMT in healthy subjects [ 5 , 11 ] and in Japanese subjects with type 2 diabetes [ 4 ].…”

“…Several epidemiologic studies have reported that an increased leukocyte subtype count is a strong independent risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) events [ 3 , 4 ]. An increased leukocyte subtype count is an independent risk factor for the prevalence and progression of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis [ 5 – 11 ]. However, Kuo et al [ 12 ] reported no association between total leukocyte count and IMT in asymptomatic subjects.…”

Serum C1q/TNF-related protein-3 (CTRP3) levels are decreased in obesity and hypertension and are negatively correlated with parameters of insulin resistance

“…The result indicated CTRP3 influences systemic inflammation possibly mainly in hypertensive, not obese subjects. The WBC count has been considered as a marker of cardiovascular disease risk measured through indicators of atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness in previous data [ 26 ].…”

Potential of Monocyte Count for the Assessment of Cardiovascular Disease

“…The leukocyte count has been reported to correlate with coronary heart disease (CHD) since 1920s [2]. In addition, many epidemiologic studies have reported that an increased leukocyte count is a strong and independent risk factor for cardiovascular events [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] and for the prevalence and progression of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis [11][12][13][14][15][16], suggesting that leukocyte count is useful as a clinical marker to predict atherosclerotic diseases. On the other hand, leukocyte count includes several types of cells which have different participation form in atherogenesis.…”