Fractalkine levels are elevated early after PCI-treated ST-elevation myocardial infarction; no influence of autologous bone marrow derived stem cell injection.

BACKGROUND: Fractalkine (CX3CL1) is a chemokine associated with atherosclerosis and inflammation. There is limited knowledge of fractalkine levels during acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stem cell treatment. We aimed to investigate the time profile of circulating fractalkine and gene expression of its receptor CX3CR1 during AMI, and the influence of intracoronary autologous bone marrow stem cell (mBMC) transplantation (given 6 days after AMI) on fractalkine levels. METHODS: We examined fractalkine levels at different time points by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 20 patients with AMI, and 10 patients with stable angina pectoris (AP) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and in 100 patients included in the randomized Autologous Stem-Cell Transplantation in Acute Myocardial Infarction (ASTAMI) trial. RESULTS: Patients with AMI had significantly elevated levels 3- and 12 h after PCI compared to patients with stable AP. After 12 h levels were similar in the two groups. An inverse pattern was observed in gene expression levels. No correlation between fractalkine levels and myocardial injury or infarct size was seen. We could not demonstrate any influence of autologous mBMC transplantation on fractalkine levels. CONCLUSION: Fractalkine levels are elevated the first 12 h after PCI in patients with AMI, however, not correlated to infarct size. The inverse pattern in gene expression of fractalkine receptor (CX3CR1) might be a compensatory mechanism. No effect of autologous mBMC transplantation given 6 days after AMI on fractalkine levels was observed.