Elevation of Plasma Granzyme B Levels After Acute Myocardial Infarction

Correlation With Left Ventricular Remodeling

Abstract

Background: Apoptosis is reported to play an important role in left ventricular (LV) remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Granzyme B is a member of the serine esterase family, which has an important role in cellular apoptosis and extracellular matrix degradation. Methods and Results: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 33 patients with a first-onset AMI treated by percutaneous coronary intervention (mean age: 61.4±8.7 years old) on days 1, 7 and 14 after onset. Plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, a soluble form of the Fas ligand (sFasL), and granzyme B were measured. TIMI grade 3 recanalization was accomplished in all patients within 12 h after onset. The LV end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI) was calculated on day 1 and at 6 months after onset. Plasma levels of TNF-α, sFasL and granzyme B increased significantly on days 7 and 14 after onset of AMI. Stepwise multivariate regression analysis showed that the plasma granzyme B level on day 14 is a significant explanatory variable for changes in the LVEDVI. Conclusions: Plasma levels of granzyme B increased after AMI, which might be an important factor in the progression of late LV remodeling after AMI. (Circ J 2009; 73: 503 - 507)