Limitations
Our trial did not have an age matched healthy control. It is not clear whether TA-65 preserves lymphocyte count for the age group or accelerates its return to normal after MI. While a reduction in hsCRP is demonstrated, measurement of systemic cytokine levels is needed to elucidate the impact of TA-65 on SASP. We used the Becton Dickinson 6-colour Trucount assay which has premixed antibodies that have been tested vigorously in clinical settings. It only comes with CD16, and not CD14. This limits our interpretation of monocyte subtypes as CD16 alone is not a fully reliable marker to distinguish intermediate, non-classical and classical monocytes. The mechanism of TA-65 remains unexplained. We plan to explore potential mechanisms in future studies by measuring telomere DNA length and mitochondrial functional assays in stored PMBC samples. Finally, the effects of TA-65 on lymphocyte count elevation and hsCRP reduction warrant an adequately powered study.