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B-006 DECREASE OF AUTOANTIBODIES AGAINST OXIDIZED LDL IN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS - RELATED CAROTID ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Background Autoantibodies against Oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDL) were found to be protective at an early stage of atherosclerosis in our previous study.[Chen et al. Cardiology 2008;110:252–259.]Howerer, we suspected that latent human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection may modulate the protection of immune response in subclinical atherosclerosis. Methods An age-matched case-control study was constructed including 72 HCMV latent infection subjects and 41 non-HCMV latent infection healthy controls recruited from 2009 to 2010. HCMV latent infection is defined as presence of HCMV DNA, detected by nested PCR, in leucocytes but absence in plasma of subjects. Carotid atherosclerosis, lipid profile, oxLDL and autoantibody were also measured. Results Increase of intima-media thickness of common carotid artery (p = 0.018) indicated subclinical atherosclerosis in the HCMV latent infection subjects compared with non-HCMV latent infection healthy controls. Lower autoantibodies against oxLDL (p = 0.018), relatively higher level of oxLDL (p = 0.058), higher triglyceride (p = 0.014) and higher ratio of cholesterol to HDL (p = 0.009) were noted in the HCMV latent infection subjects. Conclusions We concluded HCMV latent infection may play a crucial role in the lessened production of protective autoantibodies against oxLDL. Based on the differences in lipid panel, interference with lipid metabolism may be one possible pathway for HCMV to precipitate the process of carotid atherosclerosis.