Hyperglycemia and Inflammatory Property of Circulating Monocytes are Associated with Inflammatory Property of Carotid Plaques in Patients Undergoing Carotid Endarterectomy

Aim: This study aims to determine the association between glucose metabolism and proinflammatory/anti-inflammatory properties of circulating monocytes or those of carotid plaques in patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy. Methods: Clinical characteristics and expression levels of proinflammatory/anti-inflammatory markers in circulating monocytes/carotid plaques were examined in 12 patients with diabetes and 12 patients without diabetes. Results: Circulating monocytes from patients with diabetes revealed higher tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and lower interleukin (IL)-10 expression levels compared with those from patients without diabetes, which was also observed in carotid plaques from patients with diabetes. Hyperglycemia revealed positive and negative correlations with the ratios of IL-6(+) and IL-10(+) cells in carotid plaques, respectively. Moreover, we determined a positive correlation between circulating monocytes and carotid plaques with respect to TNF-α and IL-6 expressions. Conclusions: The inflammatory property of circulating monocytes was associated with that of carotid plaques. Hyperglycemia increased inflammatory properties and decreased anti-inflammatory properties of carotid plaques.