J Leukoc Biol. 2026 Jan 8:qiag003. doi: 10.1093/jleuko/qiag003. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Prior studies have demonstrated associations between eosinophil activation products and incident stroke. We investigated whether circulating eosinophil concentration is associated with imaging markers of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), analyzing two arterial beds (carotid artery plaque [CAP] and coronary artery calcium [CAC]) in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). The MESA enrolled individuals age 45-84, without ASCVD at baseline. ASCVD risk factors, blood eosinophils, CAP presence/score (0-12) and CAC presence/Agatston score were measured at MESA Exam No. 5. Using logistic and linear regression analyses, the relationships between blood eosinophils, CAP or CAC presence, or scores (log[score+1]), adjusted for confounders, were evaluated. The 2,166 participants were a mean (standard deviation [SD]) 69.6 (9.3) years old, 53% female, 29% Hispanic, 28% Black, 1% Chinese American. The eosinophil count was median (interquartile range) 0.10 (0.10,0.20) x 103/μl, CAP score 2 (0,4) and CAC score 45 (0,292) Agatston units. In risk-factor adjusted models, increased blood eosinophil count (per 1 SD [0.15×103/μl]) associated with log scores of CAP (β: 0.05 [95% CI 0.02 to 0.08, p = 0.001) or CAC (β: 0.11, [0.01 to 0.21], p = 0.03). Similar associations were observed for eosinophils and CAP (odds ratio [OR]: 1.12, [1.01 to 1.25], p = 0.03) and CAC (OR: 1.15, [1.02 to 1.30], p = 0.02) presence. In conclusion, in a large, multi-ethnic US cohort, blood eosinophils were independently linked to imaging atherosclerosis measures in two arterial distributions. These data suggest potential roles of eosinophilic inflammation in atherosclerosis.

PMID:41503640 | DOI:10.1093/jleuko/qiag003