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.