The association between uncarboxylated matrix Gla protein and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2

Effect of anti-Helicobacter pylori therapy on bile H. pylori DNA and PLA2 activity and immune function in patients with cholelithiasis

BACKGROUND

The pathogenesis of cholelithiasis is related to many factors including the dynamics of the biliary system, the change of bile content, the infection with bacteria like Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and so on. H. pylori infection, on the one hand, may result in the increase of phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) in bile, which could promote cholesterol precipitation and later cause bile stone formation. On the other hand, H. pylori infection could stimulate the body¡¯s immune response and then lead to the decline of immune function. It is still unknown whether anti-H. pylori therapy in patients with cholelithiasis complicated with H. pylori infection could reduce PLA₂ activity and improve immune function. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of anti-H. pylori therapy on bile H. pylori DNA and PLA₂ and immune function in patients with cholelithiasis.

AIM

To investigate the effect of anti-H. pylori therapy on bile H. pylori DNA and PLA₂ and immune function in patients with cholelithiasis.

METHODS

A total of 80 patients who were treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography choledocholithotomy plus endoscopic nasobiliary drainage for cholelithiasis or who underwent surgical bile duct stone removal combined with T tube drainage and had H. pylori infection were selected. They were randomly divided into either a study group or a control group (n = 40 each). The study group was treated with anti-H. pylori therapy, and the control group underwent proton pump inhibitor treatment. Changes in the negative conversion rate of bile H. pylori DNA, PLA₂ activity, and immune function were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The negative conversion rate of bile H. pylori DNA in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group (92.50% vs 67.50%, P < 0.05). PLA_-2 activity in bile in the study group was significantly lower than that in the control group after treatment (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in immunoglobulin A or immunoglobulin M between the two groups (P > 0.05). Immunoglobulin G was increased after treatment (P < 0.05), and there was a significant difference in immunoglobulin G between the two groups (P < 0.05). The levels of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes in the study group were better than those the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Anti-H. pylori therapy can improve the immune function in patients with cholelithiasis possibly by improving the negative conversion rate of H. pylori DNA and lowering the level of bile PLA₂.

Association of matrix γ-carboxyglutamic acid protein levels with insulin resistance and Lp(a) in diabetes: A cross-sectional study

AIMS

The risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality is increased in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), with a background role of vascular calcification in the development of CVD also reported. Studies have demonstrated that high lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) levels accelerate the development of atherosclerolsis and are potentially involved in the vascular calcification. Matrix Gla Protein (MGP) seems to play an important role in vascular calcification. The aim of the study was to examine the potential association of MGP concentrations with Lp(a) and insulin resistance.

METHODS

The study involved 100patients divided in four groups: 25 with both CKD stage 4 and Type2 Diabetes (DM) (Group-A), 25 with CKD4 without DM (Group-B), 25 non uremic patients with DM (Group-C) and 25 healthy subjects (Group-D). Serum glucose, Lp(a), MGP, plasma HBA1c and insulin were measured in all patients. Insulin resistance was estimated by the homeostasis model assessment equation (HOMA-IR).

RESULTS

A significant positive linear association between MGP and Lp(a) levels (r=0.272, p=0.006) was noted, as well as between MGP and HOMA-IR levels (r=0.308, p=0.002). However, no significant linear association between Lp(a) and HOMA-IR levels was recorded. A similar positive association between MGP and insulin levels (r=0.204, p=0.042) was also found.

CONCLUSION

This study concluded that diabetes coexisting with renal disease leads to extreme vascular calcification expressed by elevated MGP levels, resulting in higher frequency of cardiovascular disease in comparison to CKD patients without diabetes. The detected Lp(a) and MGP association in CKD4 patients may also represent the key to the complicated mechanism of their coexisting accelerated atherosclerosis and vascular calcification.

The abnormal status of uncarboxylated matrix Gla protein species represents an additional mortality risk in heart failure patients with vascular disease

BACKGROUND

Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is a natural inhibitor of tissue calcification. In a previous study, we observed the positive association between abnormal concentrations of uncarboxylated MGP species and increased mortality risk in stable vascular patients. We explore whether co-incidence of abnormal status of uncarboxylated MPG and heart failure (HF) affects the mortality risk.

METHODS

We examined 799 patients (mean age 65.1 years) with stable vascular disease and followed them in a prospective study. Both, desphospho-uncarboxylated and total uncarboxylated MGP (dp-ucMGP or t-ucMGP) were quantified by pre-commercial ELISA assays.

RESULTS

Elevated (>100 ng/L) circulating brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and abnormal status of plasma uncarboxylated MGP species (i.e.: dp-ucMGP ≥ 977 pmol/L or t-ucMGP ≤ 2825 nmol/L) were all identified as robust predictors of all-cause 5-year mortality. However, their co-incidence represented a substantial additional risk. We observed the highest mortality risk in patients with elevated BNP plus high dp-ucMGP compared to those with normal BNP plus low dp-ucMGP; fully adjusted HRR's were 4.86 (3.15-7.49). Likewise, the risk was increased when compared with patients with elevated BNP plus low dp-ucMGP; HRR 2.57 (1.60-4.10). Similar result we observed when co-incidence of elevated BNP and low t-ucMGP was analyzed [corresponding HRR's were 4.16 (2.62-6.61) and 1.96 (1.24-3.12)].

CONCLUSIONS

The concomitant abnormality of uncarboxylated MGP and mild elevation of BNP leads in chronic patients with vascular disease to about two-fold increase of the relative mortality risk. We hypothesize that abnormal homeostasis of MGP is involved in the pathophysiology of HF.