Associations between Circulating VEGFR2(hi)-Neutrophils and Carotid Plaque Burden in Patients Aged 40-64 without Established Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

BACKGROUND: Neutrophils expressing vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) represent a distinct subtype of neutrophils with proangiogenic properties. The purpose of this study was to identify the interrelations between circulating CD16(hi)CD11b(hi)CD62L(lo)CXCR2(hi)VEGFR2(hi)-neutrophils and indicators of carotid plaque burden in patients without atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD). METHODS: The study included 145 patients, 51.7% men and 48.3% women, median age—49.0 years. All patients underwent carotid duplex ultrasound scanning. The maximal carotid plaque thickness was used as an indicator of carotid plaque burden. Also, carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and femoral IMT were measured. The phenotyping of neutrophil subpopulations was executed by the flow cytometry via the Navios 6/2. Results. The subpopulation of VEGFR2(hi)-neutrophils accounted for about 5% of the total pool of circulating neutrophils. A decrease in VEGFR2(hi)-neutrophils with an increase in carotid plaque burden was statistically significant (p = 0.036). A decrease in VEGFR2(hi)-neutrophils < 4.52% allowed to predict the presence of plaque with a maximum height > 2.1 mm (Q4), with sensitivity of 78.9% and specificity of 61.5% (AUC 0.693; 95% CI 0.575-0.811; p = 0.007). Inverse correlations were established between the carotid and femoral IMT and the absolute and relative number of VEGFR2(hi)-neutrophils (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In patients aged 40-64 years without established ASCVD, with an increase in indicators of the carotid plaque burden, a significant decrease in the proportion of circulating VEGFR2(hi)-neutrophils was noticed. A decrease in the relative number of VEGFR2(hi)-neutrophils of less than 4.52% made it possible to predict the presence of extent carotid atherosclerosis with sensitivity of 78.9% and specificity of 61.5%.