Soluble ligands of NK cell activating receptors as novel predictive serum biomarkers for carotid plaque instability

Project objectives

Impact of natural killer cells on carotid plaque stability. This is a multicenter cohort observational medical-scientific study, conducted at the Complex Operative Unit of Vascular Surgery of the Campus Biomedico University of Rome (RM) and the G. Martino University Hospital of Messina (ME) and The University of Genoa.

The clinical sample examined includes patients, both symptomatic (identified as suffering from stroke, transient ischemic attack or amaurosis fugax within 6 months) and asymptomatic, with carotid atherosclerotic plaques, with clinical indications for carotid monitoring (i.e. with a carotid stenosis equal to or greater than at 40%). The diagnosis was made by considering the clinical presentation, physical examinations, and ultrasound investigation. 

Stroke risk was predicted by estimating the reduction in internal carotid artery (ICA) diameter and assessing plaque morphology. Patients were selected for invasive treatment according to the guidelines of the European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS). The carotid plaques were removed by eversion carotid endarterectomy.

The control cases, on the other hand, were selected using healthy individuals as inclusion criteria, with age and gender distribution similar to those of the patients examined, and with carotid stenosis, assessed by ultrasound study, of less than 40%. 

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee and all enrolled patients were included subject to informed consent, signed according to Dichiaration of Helsinki.

The present study aims to evaluate the distribution of NK cells and the immuno-cytological characteristics of the biological material taken, with the aim of shedding light on the putative contribution of NK cells in the pathogenetic process that leads to plaque instability, in order to to improve the methods for identifying patients at high risk of developing symptoms related to cardiovascular disease.

Start and end date

February 2020 - June 2023

Project Manager

Prof. Francesco Stilo, Head of Research Unit and Prof. Francesco Spinelli, UOC Director

Coordinating institution of the project

University of Messina

Other institutions involved in the project

Project funding source