BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the world. Given the role of immune cells in atherosclerosis development and progression, effective methods for characterizing immune cell populations are needed, particularly among populations disproportionately at risk for CVD. RESULTS By using a variety of antibodies combined in one staining protocol, we were able to identify granulocyte, lymphocyte, and monocyte sub-populations by CD-antigen expression from 500 µl of whole blood, enabling a more extensive comparison than what is possible with a complete blood count and differential (CBC). The flow cytometry panel was established and tested in a total of 29 healthy men and women. As a proof of principle, these 29 samples were split by their race/ethnicity: African-Americans (AA) (N = 14) and Caucasians (N = 15). We found in accordance with the literature that AA had fewer granulocytes and more lymphocytes when compared to Caucasians, though the proportion of total monocytes was similar in both groups. Several new differences between AA and Caucasians were noted that had not been previously described. For example, AA had a greater proportion of platelet adhesion on non-classical monocytes when compared to Caucasians, a cell-to-cell interaction described as crucially important in CVD. We also examined our flow panel in a clinical population of AA women with known CVD risk factors (N = 20). Several of the flow cytometry parameters that cannot be measured with the CBC displayed correlations with clinical CVD risk markers. For instance, Framingham Risk Score (FRS) calculated for each participant correlated with immune cell platelet aggregates (PA) (e.g. T cell PA β = 0.59, p = 0.03 or non-classical monocyte PA β = 0.54, p = 0.02) after adjustment for body mass index (BMI). CONCLUSION A flow cytometry panel identified differences in granulocytes, monocytes, and lymphocytes between AA and Caucasians which may contribute to increased CVD risk in AA. Moreover, this flow panel identifies immune cell sub-populations and platelet aggregates associated with CVD risk. This flow cytometry panel may serve as an effective method for phenotyping immune cell populations involved in the development and progression of CVD.

中文翻译：

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低血容量的免疫细胞表型分析，评估心血管疾病的风险，发育和进展：一项试点研究。

背景技术心血管疾病（CVD）是世界上主要的死亡原因。考虑到免疫细胞在动脉粥样硬化发展和进程中的作用，需要一种有效的方法来表征免疫细胞群，尤其是在那些具有严重心血管疾病风险的人群中。结果通过在一种染色方案中结合使用多种抗体，我们能够通过CD抗原表达从500微升全血中鉴定出粒细胞，淋巴细胞和单核细胞亚群，从而实现了比单染法更广泛的比较。全血细胞计数和鉴别（CBC）。建立了流式细胞仪小组，并在总共29位健康的男性和女性中进行了测试。作为原理证明，这29个样本按种族/民族进行了划分：非裔美国人（AA）（N = 14）和高加索人（N = 15）。根据文献，我们发现与高加索人相比，AA的粒细胞少，淋巴细胞多，尽管两组中单核细胞的总比例相似。注意到AA和高加索人之间的一些新差异，以前没有描述过。例如，与高加索人相比，AA在非经典单核细胞上具有更大比例的血小板粘附，据称细胞间相互作用在CVD中至关重要。我们还检查了具有已知CVD危险因素（N = 20）的AA妇女的临床人群的血流板。CBC无法测量的几个流式细胞仪参数显示出与临床CVD危险标志物的相关性。例如，为每个参与者计算的弗雷明汉风险评分（FRS）与免疫细胞血小板聚集体（PA）相关（例如 调整体重指数（BMI）后，T细胞PAβ= 0.59，p = 0.03或非经典单核细胞PAβ= 0.54，p = 0.02）。结论流式细胞仪专家组确定了AA和高加索人之间的粒细胞，单核细胞和淋巴细胞的差异，这可能导致AA中CVD风险的增加。此外，该流程小组还确定了与CVD风险相关的免疫细胞亚群和血小板聚集体。该流式细胞仪面板可以用作对涉及CVD的发生和发展的免疫细胞群体进行表型化的有效方法。此外，该流程小组还确定了与CVD风险相关的免疫细胞亚群和血小板聚集体。该流式细胞仪面板可以用作对涉及CVD的发生和发展的免疫细胞群体进行表型化的有效方法。此外，该流程小组还确定了与CVD风险相关的免疫细胞亚群和血小板聚集体。该流式细胞仪面板可以用作对涉及CVD的发生和发展的免疫细胞群体进行表型化的有效方法。