SIRT1 inhibition causes oxidative stress and inflammation in patients with coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the primary critical cardiovascular event. Endothelial cell and monocyte dysfunction with subsequent extravagant inflammation are the main causes of vessel damage in CAD. Thus, strategies that repress cell death and manage unsuitable pro-inflammatory responses in CAD are potential therapeutic strategies for improving the clinical prognosis of patients with CAD. SIRT1 (Sirtuin 1) plays an important role in regulating cellular physiological processes. SIRT1 is also thought to protect the cardiovascular system by means of its antioxidant, anti-inflammation and anti-apoptosis activities. In the present study, we found that the SIRT1 expression levels were repressed and the acetylated p53 expression levels were enhanced in the monocytes of patients with CAD. LOX-1/oxidative stress was also up-regulated in the monocytes of patients with CAD, thereby increasing pro-apoptotic events and pro-inflammatory responses. We also demonstrated that monocytes from CAD patients caused endothelial adhesion molecule activation and the adherence of monocytes and endothelial cells. Our findings may explain why CAD patients remain at an increased risk of long-term recurrent ischemic events and provide new knowledge regarding the management of clinical CAD patients.