Assessment of memory CD8+ T cells in atherosclerotic coronary artery disease

Background and aim Atherosclerosis, a leading cause of angina and stroke, is marked by chronic inflammation of arterial walls and the accumulation of immune cells in the intima of large arteries. We aimed to evaluate the role of memory CD8+ T cells in atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. Patients and methods A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 50 patients with ischemic heart disease and 50 healthy controls from February 2021 to January 2022. Participants underwent comprehensive assessments, including laboratory tests (complete blood count, lipid profile, random blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, kidney function tests, international normalized ratio) and cardiac evaluations (ECG, echocardiogram, coronary angiography). Memory CD8+ T cells were analyzed using flow cytometry with markers CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD45RO. Results The study indicated significantly lower median CD3+CD8+ T lymphocyte levels in patients compared with controls ( P =0.003), while CD3+CD4+CD45RO+ and CD3+CD8+CD45RO+ memory T cells were significantly elevated in patients ( P <0.001). Conclusion The findings suggest that memory CD8+ and CD4+ T cells may be predictive biomarkers for atherosclerosis development.