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Biomedical subjects

P Kierulf

Publications and source records attributed to P Kierulf.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Effects of various fatty acids alone or combined with vitamin E on cell growth and fibrinogen concentration in the medium of HepG2 cells.

Dietary intake of fish oils, rich in the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), has given inconsistent results as to their influence on the plasma fibrinogen level (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). In the present study we have examined the effects of various fatty acids, the PUFAs and the saturated fatty acid palmitic acid (PA), alone or combined with the antioxidant vitamin E (Vit.E), on the fibrinogen concentration in the growth medium of human hepatoma (HepG2) cells. Vit.E alone decreased the amount of fibrinogen in the medium in a dose dependent fashion, where fibrinogen was measured as Fibrinopeptide A (FPA) releasable by thrombin. EPA and Vit.E decreased the amount of fibrinogen additively. PUFAs alone increased the fibrinogen concentration in a dose dependent manner. PUFAs combined with a fixed dose of Vit.E decreased the fibrinogen concentration, also dose dependently. OA and PA had an inhibitory effect, both alone and combined with Vit.E. These results indicate that Vit.E may be necessary for PUFAs to have a fibrinogen lowering effect, whereas both OA and PA apparently may decrease the fibrinogen concentration in the cell medium of HepG2 cells, both alone and combined with Vit.E. Possibly, peroxidation of the PUFAs may increase the fibrinogen production, that may be counteracted and reversed by the simultaneous presence of Vit.E.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

LPS induced procoagulant activity and plasminogen activator activity in mononuclear cells from persons with high or low levels of HDL lipoprotein.

UNLABELLED: We have examined spontaneous and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced procoagulant activity (PCA) and plasminogen activator activity (PA) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from ten persons with high, and ten persons with low levels of serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL). PBMC were incubated +/- 100 ng LPS/ml up to 160 h. Additionally, we have measured the release of urokinase (uPA), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 2 (PAI-2) into the cell culture media. Spontaneous PA was significantly higher in PBMC from persons with low HDL, combined with lower release of uPA to the media and higher uPA-receptor (uPA-R) bound uPA on PBMC. Upon stimulation with LPS, PCA and released PAI-2 increased sharply, while PA and released uPA declined. These changes were not significantly different between the two groups. tPA and PAI-1 were not detected in cell lysates or in cell culture media. CONCLUSIONS: 1) LPS sharply stimulated PBMC PCA (similar in both groups). 2) PBMC from persons with low HDL showed higher spontaneous PA, due to higher uPA-R bound uPA, probably of importance in cell migration during the early events of atherosclerosis.

Blood Cell Count↗

Effect of long-term, moderate-dose supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids on monocyte procoagulant activity and release of interleukin-6 in patients with coronary artery disease.

The influence of a moderate dietary supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFAs) (3.4 g eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids per day) for six months on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated monocyte procoagulant activity (PCA) was studied in two series of experiments, evaluating the plasma and cellular phases, respectively. In the first series, standard cryopreserved monocyte cultures were examined in heparin plasma of atherosclerotic patients (n = 24, 12 given omega-3 PUFAs, 12 controls). In the second series, monocytes from patients (n = 32, 16 given omega-3 PUFAs, 16 controls) were investigated in a standard plasma milieu. Plasma and monocytes were obtained from the test subjects before as well as after six months of omega-3 PUFA supplementation. Monocyte PCA, measured by the formation of fibrinopeptide A, was not significantly different when comparing plasma and monocytes from the subjects supplemented with omega-3 PUFAs with plasma and monocytes, respectively, from the control subjects. In the second series of experiments we also determined the LPS induced release of interleukin-6 (IL-6), which was not significantly different in the two groups. However, a strong correlation between the stimulated monocyte IL-6 release and PCA was demonstrated (r = 0.70, p = 0.00001), probably reflecting an individual inflammatory response pattern.

Arachidonic Acid↗

Retention of phagocytic functions in cryopreserved human monocytes.

Phagocytosis and respiratory burst activity were measured by flow cytometry in fresh and cryopreserved human monocytes, after ingestion of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Mononuclear leukocytes, isolated from 15 healthy donors, were divided into two portions, of which one was examined immediately and the other was cryopreserved for 3 weeks. Morphological characteristics and expression of receptors involved in phagocytosis were similar in fresh and cryopreserved monocytes. Furthermore, both internalization of bacteria and respiratory burst activity remained unchanged after cryopreservation. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed actual internalization of bacteria and not merely bacterial attachment to monocytes. Monocytes were demonstrated to retain integral cellular functions during cryopreservation. This may imply that the method has potential for use in basal and clinical trials.

Adult↗

LPS-induced release of EGF, GM-CSF, GRO alpha, LIF, MIP-1 alpha and PDGF-AB in PBMC from persons with high or low levels of HDL lipoprotein.

We have examined basal and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced release of epidermal growth factor (EGF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), growth-regulated peptide alpha (GRO alpha), leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), macrophage inflammatory protein-1a (MIP-1 alpha) and platelet-derived growth factor-AB (PDGF-AB) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 20 persons with either high (n = 10) or low (n = 10) levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). PBMC were incubated with 100 ng LPS/ml for up to 160 h, and showed a significantly higher release of the chemokines GRO alpha (P = 0.04) and MIP-1 alpha (P < 0.01) in persons with high HDL, whereas levels of GM-CSF were similar. Levels of EGF, LIF and PDGF-AB were always low, and remained unaltered during 160 h of incubation. These findings indicate that PBMC from persons with high or low levels of HDL have different functional properties, of importance in cell recruitment and activation.

Chemokine CCL4↗

Urinary excretion of retinol-binding protein in healthy children and adolescents.

Retinol-binding protein (RBP) is a marker of tubular reabsorption in the kidneys. The aim of our study was to investigate urinary RBP excretion in healthy children to obtain reference values related to age and pubertal stage. Overnight samples from 143 subjects (73 girls, 70 boys) aged 10-18 years were investigated. RBP was quantified by a solid-phase sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Both the RBP excretion rate and the RBP/creatinine ratio (RBP/Cr) showed a skewed distribution. The medians and the 5th-95th percentiles were 38 ng/min (15-127) and 9 micrograms/mmol (4-23), respectively. The RBP excretion rate and RBP/Cr ratio were similar in both sexes, and linear multiple regression analysis showed no association with age or pubertal stage, although a weak relationship (r = 0.27) was found between RBP excretion rate and age in boys and RBP/Cr ratio and age (r = -0.28) in girls by simple correlation analysis. The correlation between RBP excretion rate and RBP/Cr ratio was 0.76; the RBP excretion rate and RBP/Cr ratio measured on 2 consecutive days, showed a correlation coefficient of 0.84 and 0.88, respectively. We conclude that overnight RBP excretion in children over 10 years shows a low day-to-day variation and, in practical terms, is independent of age, gender and pubertal stage.

Adolescent↗

Long-term effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on haemostatic variables and bleeding episodes in patients with coronary artery disease.

The long-term effects of fish-oil supplementation on haemostatic parameters and bleeding episodes were investigated in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. They were investigated before and 9 months after the operation. Following randomization postoperatively, 260 patients received 4 g fish-oil concentrate per day, whereas 251 patients comprised the control group. All patients received either aspirin (300 mg/day) or warfarin (international normalized ratio aimed at 2.5-4.2). Compliance was affirmed by determination of serum phospholipid fatty acids. No excess of bleeding episodes could be attributed to the use of fish oil, given in addition to either aspirin or warfarin. The supplementation of fish oil did not affect the bleeding time or plasma levels of beta-thromboglobulin, whereas an increase in the platelet count after the operation was slightly less pronounced in the fish-oil group. Apart from a small increase in PAI-1 antigen of borderline significance, no long-term effects by fish oil on parameters of coagulation and fibrinolysis were seen.

Aged↗

Dietary supplement of omega-3 fatty acids has no effect on acute collagen-induced thrombus formation in flowing native blood.

We have studied the effect of a daily supplement of 2.4 omega-3 fatty acids (omega 3 FAs) to 16 healthy men on acute collagen-induced thrombus formation in flowing non-anticoagulated blood. The supplement was formulated as Triomar capsules, containing 60% omega-3 FAs with an eicosapentaenoic/docosahexaenoic acid ratio of 3/2. A parallel-plate perfusion chamber device was used to study thrombus formation prior to and after 3 months of omega-3 FAs supplement. The wall shear rates at the thrombogenic surface were 650, 2,600 and 10,500 s-1, which are typical for small arteries, slightly stenosed arteries and severely stenosed arteries, respectively. For the latter situation a parallel-plate perfusion chamber with an eccentric stenosis occluding 80% of the cross-sectional area of the blood flow channel was used. The dietary supplement of omega-3 FAs did not cause significant changes in platelet adhesion to collagen or in thrombus volume. However, fibrin deposition was reduced by 34% (P < 0.03) at the highest shear condition (stenosis). Plasma fibrinogen was reduced by 18% (P < 0.0006). Changes in serum concentration of triglycerides, total-cholesterol, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol were not significant. Our data suggest that a moderate intake of omega-3 FAs provides virtually no protection against acute platelet-dependent thrombus formation, irrespective of the shear conditions. However, the significant reduction in plasma levels of fibrinogen following dietary supplementation of omega-3 FAs may be important, since high levels of fibrinogen is associated with cardiovascular disease and thrombosis.

Adult↗

Procoagulant human monocytes mediate tissue factor/factor VIIa-dependent platelet-thrombus formation when exposed to flowing nonanticoagulated human blood.

Tissue factor (TF) on monocyte and macrophage surfaces is a nonproteolytic cofactor for factor VIIa (FVIIa)-induced coagulation. Monocyte-derived macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques express TF, which, after plaque disruption or rupture, may complex with FVII/VIIa from the bloodstream, resulting in activation of extrinsic coagulation. We studied the effect of TF expression on human monocytes on arterial thrombus formation in a model system of thrombogenesis. Thawed, cryopreserved human monocytes adherent to plastic coverslips were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (0.5 microgram/mL) to express TF and subsequently exposed to flowing nonanticoagulated human blood in a parallel-plate perfusion chamber. The wall shear rate at the cell surface was 650 seconds-1, corresponding to that of average-sized coronary arteries. The stimulated monocytes elicited pronounced fibrin deposition and platelet-thrombus formation. The platelet-thrombus volume was as large as that triggered by human type III collagen fibrils under similar experimental conditions. In contrast, the monocytes elicited much more fibrin deposition than the collagen surface. However, inclusion of an anti-TF monoclonal antibody that blocks the complexation of FVII/FVIIa with TF virtually abolished the fibrin deposition (P < .03) and reduced platelet-thrombus formation by more than 70% (P < .04). Thus, arterial thrombus formation induced by stimulated monocytes was almost completely blocked by the anti-TF antibody, suggesting that inhibition of TF/FVIIa complex formation on monocytes and macrophages at sites of plaque rupture or after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty procedures may reduce intravascular thrombotic complications.

Blood Coagulation Factors↗

Collagen-induced thrombus formation in flowing nonanticoagulated human blood from habitual smokers and nonsmoking patients with severe peripheral atherosclerotic disease.

The objective of the present study was to investigate collagen-induced platelet thrombus formation at arterial blood flow conditions in nonanticoagulated blood from habitual smokers and from nonsmoking patients with severe peripheral atherosclerotic disease. Collagen-induced thrombogenesis was elicited in native blood drawn directly from an antecubital vein over immobilized type III collagen fibrils coated on a coverslip positioned in a parallel-plate perfusion chamber. The wall shear rates at the collagen surface were comparable to those encountered in medium-sized (650 s-1) and moderately stenosed (2600 s-1) arteries. Thrombus formation in blood from habitual smokers after 10 hours of smoking abstinence appeared to be not different from thrombus formation in blood from healthy nonsmokers. However, immediately after a cigarette had been smoked, thrombus volume in blood from the same individuals was increased twofold at the highest shear rate (P < .05). Thus, the thrombotic response was temporarily upregulated after smoking. Thrombus formation in blood from nonsmoking patients with severe peripheral atherosclerotic disease was neither enhanced nor decreased but was within the range of the nonsmoking control subjects. However, fibrinopeptide A generation after 4 minutes of perfusion at 2600 s-1 was higher in blood from the atherosclerotic patients (P < .05) and associated with a higher plasma fibrinogen level (P < .005). Thus, signs of changed platelet reactivity in flowing nonanticoagulated blood were encountered only in the habitual smokers immediately after they had smoked a cigarette.

Adult↗

Long-term lipid-based total parenteral nutrition activates mononuclear cells and modulates membrane lipid composition in pigs.

In previous studies we have found lung granulomas in pigs on long-term soybean-based total parenteral nutrition (TPN). In the present study we have investigated activities and membrane lipids of cells known to participate in a granulomatous process. Pigs were given TPN with soybean emulsion for 7 weeks, controls were given saline intravenously and consumed a similar caloric load in a standard oral diet. Spontaneous nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction increased 204% in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) from TPN animals compared to controls (p < 0.05), and 161% (p = 0.05) in alveolar macrophages. The spontaneous lymphocyte mitogen response (LMR) rate in MNC increased 299% (p < 0.05). Endotoxin-stimulated procoagulant activity in MNC tended to increase in TPN animals. Acid phosphatase and lysozyme production in alveolar macrophages were not significantly changed. The serum neopterin level at the end of the observation was 7.0 nmol l-1 in TPN animals compared to 3.9 nmol l-1 in controls (p < 0.01), while interleukin-1 and tumour necrosis factor were not detectable. These findings indicated in vivo activation of peripheral blood monocytes, lymphocytes and alveolar macrophages in pigs on TPN. The membrane lipid contents of linoleic acid (18:2, n-6) increased, while arachidonic acid (20:4, n-6) tended to decrease both in MNC and lung tissue. Thus, linoleic acid conversion did not lead to accumulation of arachidonate in the cell membranes. Direct effects on monocytes, lymphocytes and alveolar macrophages of TPN particles, and altered cell membrane function, due to linoleic acid enrichment, are tentative explanations for the raised cell responses. Such cell activation may have contributed to the formation of granulomas.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Blood reticulocyte count and plasma lactate dehydrogenase activity are positively related to the free fatty acid/albumin ratio in geriatric patients.

The objective of this study was to investigate the in vivo relationship between plasma free fatty acid (FFA)/albumin molar ratio and indicators of cellular damage. A case series study was carried out in 20 geriatric patients in a stable clinical condition. Their plasma albumin concentration was in the range 26-42 g l-1. There was a significant positive correlation between the FFA/albumin ratio and (a) reticulocyte count (r = 0.61, p = 0.006), (b) lactate dehydrogenase activity (r = 0.69, p = 0.002), and (c) haptoglobin concentration (r = 0.46, p = 0.05). The haemoglobin concentration was inversely related to relative reticulocyte count (r = -0.55, p = 0.01). Absolute and relative reticulocyte counts were positively associated (r = 0.92, p < 0.0001). The results are in accordance with the contention that a high FFA/albumin ratio in vivo may elicit cellular damage. Further studies are required to elucidate to what extent a high FFA/albumin ratio might be causally related to diseases.

Aged↗

Effects of partially hydrogenated fish oil, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, and butter on serum lipoproteins and Lp[a] in men.

We have compared the effects of partially hydrogenated fish oil (PHFO-diet), partially hydrogenated soybean oil (PHSO-diet), and butterfat (butter-diet) on serum lipids and lipoprotein[a] in 31 young men. The three test margarines, which contributed 78% of total fat in the diets, were produced from 70% of butterfat, PHSO, or PHFO, each with 30% of soybean oil. Fat provided about 35% of energy, and trans fatty acids 0.9%, 8.5%, and 8.0% of energy in the butter-, the PHSO-, and the PHFO-diet, respectively. Dietary cholesterol was balanced by the addition of dried egg powder to the PHSO- and the butter-diet; thus all diets contained 420 mg dietary cholesterol per 10 MJ per day. The subjects consumed all three test diets for 19-21 days in a random order (crossover design). The serum levels of total and LDL-cholesterol were significantly elevated on the PHFO-diet (mean values 5.42 and 3.94 mmol/L, respectively) compared to the PHSO-diet (5.11 and 3.58 mmol/L, respectively) but not different from those on the butter-diet (5.32 and 3.81 mmol/L, respectively). LDL-cholesterol was significantly reduced on the PHSO-diet compared to the butter-diet. The level of HDL-cholesterol was significantly lower on the PHFO-diet (0.98 mmol/L) when compared to the butter-diet (1.05 mmol/L) and with border-line significance compared to the PHSO-diet (1.05 mmol/L). The ratio of LDL- to HDL-cholesterol was significantly higher on the PHFO-diet (4.20) when compared to both other test diets (3.85 and 3.65, respectively). No significant differences in triglyceride values were observed. Lp[a] increased and apoA-I decreased significantly after consumption of both the PHSO-diet and the PHFO-diet, compared to the butter-diet. In conclusion, our results indicate that consumption of PHFO may unfavorably affect lipid risk indicators for coronary heart disease at least to the same extent as butterfat. To what extent the observed effects are due to the content of monoene trans, diene trans, or to the long chain saturated fatty acids in PHFO remains to be elucidated.

Adult↗

Procoagulant and profibrinolytic activities of cryopreserved human monocytes.

The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of fresh and cryopreserved mononuclear cells to generate thrombin, induce fibrin formation and finally resolve the fibrin formed, when exposed to plasma. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) from 4 donors were collected by gradient centrifugation on Lymfoprep, and cryopreserved in fetal calf serum and 10% dimethyl sulfoxide. Viability was tested by exclusion of trypan blue, as well as green/red fluorescence of fluorescein-diacetate and ethidium bromide (FDA/EB). Fresh and frozen-thawed cells were seeded, stimulated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS), and exposed to a standard heparinized overlay plasma. Plasma was harvested at intervals (0-7 days). Thrombin generation and fibrin formation were measured by quantification of prothrombin fragment (F1 + 2) and fibrinopeptide A (FPA) and the fibrinolytic capacity of the cells as the amount of fibrin (ogen) degradation products (FbDP and FgDP). Recovery of cells after thawing was about 80%, and the viability of fresh and cryopreserved PBM was > 95%. Compared to fresh, frozen cells fully retained their capability of Tissue Factor synthesis, leading to prothombinase activity (F1 + 2) and fibrin formation (FPA). In contrast, the fibrinolytic capacity of frozen-thawed cells were significantly reduced. As expected there were significant variations between the donors in all the parameters measured. We conclude that cryopreservation of human blood mononuclear cells is possible with maintainance of the potential of the cells to mediate coagulation in plasma upon LPS stimulation, whereas the fibrin resolving capacity apparently is reduced by the preservation procedure.

Blood Coagulation↗

Reduced thrombus formation in native blood of homozygous factor VII-deficient patients at high arterial wall shear rate.

Inhibition of thrombin formation in flowing native blood reduces thrombus formation on subendothelium, dacron, or collagen fibrils at arterial wall shear rates of 450 to 650 s-1. In the present study, we have investigated the role of low levels of factor VII (FVII) in thrombus formation on collagen fibrils at arterial wall shear rates of 650 s-1 (coronary arteries), 2,600 s-1 (mildly stenosed arteries), and 10,510 s-1 (severely stenosed arteries) in parallel-plate perfusion chambers. In the perfusion chamber with the highest wall shear rate, thrombus formation took place at the apex of an eccentric stenosis, which reduced the cross-sectional area of the blood flow channel by 80%, thus simulating thrombus formation at an atherosclerotic plaque rupture. Native blood from 21 healthy volunteers and 12 homozygous FVII-deficient patients was drawn by a pump directly from an antecubital vein over a surface of fibrillar collagen positioned in the respective perfusion chambers. The patients had FVII coagulant activities ranging from 1.3% to 4.5% and FVII antigen levels of 16% to 23% of normal. Immunoaffinity purification of the patients' FVII followed by electrophoresis (sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis [SDS-PAGE]) and immunoblotting showed a protein with similar molecular mass as normal FVII. In the perfusion studies, a reduction in thrombus volume of 54% of normal (P < .007) at 10,510 s-1 was observed. The deposition of fibrin on the thrombogenic surface and the plasma level of fibrinopeptide A (FPA) in blood samples collected distal to the perfusion chamber were concomitantly reduced (P < .002 and P < .04, respectively). The plasma FPA level was also reduced at 2,600 s-1 (P < .04), but not at 650 s-1. However, at the lower shear conditions, the thrombus volume and the fibrin deposition were within the ranges observed in normal blood. The platelet-collagen adhesion was not affected at any of the three shear conditions. Thus, low plasma levels of FVII result in significantly less formation of thrombin and fibrin in and around growing platelet masses at high shear condition. This may weaken the thrombus stability and reduce platelet recruitment, thereby lowering thrombus volume. In support of this theory, one patient with afibrinogenemia had an 83% reduction in thrombus volume at this high shear condition.

Afibrinogenemia↗

Effect of monomethylmethacrylate on procoagulant activities of human monocytes and umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro.

Cemented total hip replacement surgery is associated with intraoperative cardiorespiratory depression and postoperative proximal deep vein thrombosis which may be linked to an extreme intraoperative thrombin generation and local and systemic effects of monomethylmethacrylate (MMA) released into circulation from curing cement. This in vitro study demonstrates that MMA alone or in combination with thrombin have effects on monocytes and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) which modulate their procoagulant activities. Moderate doses of MMA had a slight tissue factor (TF) inducing effect on monocytes. Small doses of MMA (0.1-1 mg/ml) [corrected] markedly potentiated the TF inducing effect of thrombin or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) which was included as a reference stimulant. These TF modulating effects of MMA were not seen with HUVEC. However, the generation of fibrinopeptide A (FPA) in cell overlay plasma indicated enhanced procoagulant activity of HUVEC treated with moderate doses of MMA, probably reflecting MMA cytotoxicity leading to cell retraction and exposure of extracellular matrix. Furthermore, small doses of MMA had a slight enhancing effect on FPA generation when coincubated with thrombin. These findings indicate that MMA in concentrations found in central venous blood in vivo, alone or together with thrombin, directly or indirectly exert effects that contribute to activation of coagulation.

Endothelium, Vascular↗

LPS-induced release of IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha and sCD14 in whole blood and PBMC from persons with high or low levels of HDL-lipoprotein.

We have examined basal and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced release of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and soluble CD14 (sCD14) in whole blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 20 persons with either high (1.62-2.47 mmol/L) or low (0.43-1.29 mmol/L) levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Whole blood was incubated at 37 degrees C for 2 h with 100 ng LPS/ml, while PBMC were incubated with 100 ng LPS/ml for up to 160 h. The LPS-induced release of IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha into plasma showed no differences between the two HDL-groups; whereas levels of sCD14 were significantly higher in plasma in persons with low HDL (P < 0.01). PBMC incubated with LPS showed a significantly higher release of IL-1 beta (P = 0.01) and IL-6 (P = 0.02) in persons with high HDL at all sampling times. sCD14 was found not to be released by PBMC. These findings indicate that PBMC from persons with high or low levels of HDL have different functional properties, possibly of importance in inflammation and atherogenesis.

Antigens, CD↗