The potential of serum amyloid A–LDL as a novel biomarker for cardiovascular disease risk

Aqueous humor perturbations in chronic smokers: a proteomic study

The detrimental effects of smoking are multisystemic and its effects on the eye health are significant. Smoking is a strong risk factor for age-related nuclear cataract, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, delayed corneal epithelial healing and increased risk of cystoid macular edema in patients with intermediate uveitis among others. We aimed to characterize the aqueous humor (AH) proteome in chronic smokers to gain insight into its perturbations and to identify potential biomarkers for smoking-associated ocular pathologies. Compared to the control group, chronic smokers displayed 67 (37 upregulated, 30 downregulated) differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Analysis of DEPs from the biological point of view revealed that they were proteins involved in complement activation, lymphocyte mediated immunity, innate immune response, cellular oxidant detoxification, bicarbonate transport and platelet degranulation. From the molecular function point of view, DEPs were involved in oxygen binding, oxygen carrier activity, hemoglobin binding, peptidase/endopeptidase/cysteine-type endopeptidase inhibitory activity. Several of the upregulated proteins were acute phase reactant proteins such as clusterin, alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein, fibrinogen, alpha-1-antitrypsin, C4b-binding protein and serum amyloid A-2. Further research should confirm if these proteins might serve as biomarkers or therapeutic target for smoking-associated ocular diseases.

Relationship of Troponin I with Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio and Serum Amyloid A in Acute Coronary Syndrome

Abstract Introduction: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is the leading cause of death in the world. Acute myocardial infarction can initiate an acute inflammatory process by inducing pro-inflammatory cytokines at the cellular level measured by NLR, at the biomolecular level characterized by SAA production in liver. The relationship of elevated troponin I levels as a marker of myocardial necrosis with NLR and SAA as inflammatory markers need further discussion. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between cardiac necrosis markers and inflammatory parameters in ACS. Methods: An analytic observational study with a cross-sectional approach was conducted from March to May 2019. This study involved 32 patients with ACS at the Emergency Department of Dr.Kariadi Hospital, with the onset of attacks of 4-6 hours which met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Examination of troponin I level was done using the ELFA method, NLR value was measured using a hematology analyzer, and SAA level was measured using the ELISA method. Statistical test was done using Spearman correlation. Value of p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The median (min-max) of troponin I, NLR, and SAA values were 0.617 (0.001-40,000) μg/L, 4.92 (1.38-18.16) and 40.454 (5.879-66.059) μg/ml, respectively. The correlation of troponin I level with NLR and SAA were r=0.180, p=0.243 and r=0.655, p=0.000. Conclusions: There was a significant positive moderate relationship between troponin I level and SAA which could be used as a marker of acute inflammation in ACS, whereas cell inflammation marker of NLR did not provide a significant meaning. Keywords: ACS, NLR, SAA, troponin

Adipokines and Arterial Stiffness in Obesity

Adipokines are active molecules with pleiotropic effects produced by adipose tissue and involved in obesity-related metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Arterial stiffness, which is a consequence of arteriosclerosis, has been shown to be an independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The pathogenesis of arterial stiffness is complex but incompletely understood. Adipokines dysregulation may induce, by various mechanisms, vascular inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and vascular remodeling, leading to increased arterial stiffness. This article summarizes literature data regarding adipokine-related pathogenetic mechanisms involved in the development of arterial stiffness, particularly in obesity, as well as the results of clinical and epidemiological studies which investigated the relationship between adipokines and arterial stiffness.

Effect of statins on atherogenic serum amyloid A and α1-antitrypsin low-density lipoprotein complexes

PURPOSE

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, also termed statins, are used to reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. Two oxidatively modified low-density lipoprotein (LDL) complexes, serum amyloid A-LDL (SAA-LDL) and α1-antitrypsin-LDL (AT-LDL), serve as atherosclerotic, inflammatory, and cardiovascular risk markers. In this study, we examined the effects of hydrophilic rosuvastatin (RSV) and lipophilic pitavastatin (PTV) on these markers in patients with hypercholesterolemia.

METHODS

The present study was a sub-analysis of our previous STAT-LVDF study. The subjects were treated with RSV or PTV for 24weeks. Changes in glucose-lipid metabolism, serum levels of SAA-LDL and AT-LDL, and C-reactive protein (CRP) level were assessed.

RESULTS

In total, 53 patients were analyzed in the present study. RSV and PTV significantly decreased SAA-LDL (RSV: p=0.003, PTV: p=0.012) and AT-LDL levels (RSV: p=0.013, PTV: p=0.037). Changes in SAA-LDL level were significantly and positively correlated with those in CRP in both the RSV (r=0.549, p=0.003) and PTV (r=0.576, p=0.004) groups. Moreover, a positive correlation between changes of SAA-LDL levels and those of HbA1c levels was observed in the PTV group (r=0.442, p=0.030) but not in the RSV group (r=-0.100, p=0.611).

CONCLUSIONS

Both hydrophilic rosuvastatin and lipophilic pitavastatin reduce serum levels of atherosclerotic and inflammatory markers. These findings also indicate differential effects of RSV and PTV on glucose tolerance.

Influence of atorvastatin on serum amyloid A-low density lipoprotein complex in hypercholesterolemic patients

The complex of serum amyloid A(SAA) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), SAA-LDL, is considered a new and unique marker of oxidatively-modified LDL particles, which is associated with atherosclerotic conditions. This study investigated the influence of atorvastatin treatment on circulating SAA-LDL levels among asymptomatic hypercholesterolemic patients. A total of 26 patients (mean age 63 years) received 10 mg/daily atorvastatin during a 12-week treatment period. The levels of LDL cholesterol and SAA-LDL, but not high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and SAA, were significantly reduced after the treatment. Stepwise adjusted regression analyses revealed that changes of SAA-LDL were significantly and positively correlated with those of SAA, while absolute changes were small, which warrants further investigation. The results suggest that atorvastatin may beneficially reduce SAA-LDL, and SAA-LDL may be a sensitive measure for monitoring the efficacy and antioxidant functions of atorvastatin.

Serum Amyloid a Low-Density Lipoprotein Levels and Smoking Status in Obese Japanese Patients

Serum amyloid A low-density lipoprotein (SAA-LDL) is formed by an oxidative interaction and is considered to be a new marker related to oxidative modification of LDL. As the effect of smoking on oxidized LDL is of concern, this study investigated the association between SAA-LDL and smoking status. A total of 578 Japanese obese outpatients (mean ± SD age 50.5 ± 14.3 years) were studied. Smoking status was examined via a self-reported questionnaire. Cardiometabolic variables, including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), were analysed in addition to SAA-LDL. There was an increasing trend in SAA-LDL levels from non- to ex- to current smokers, and significantly higher SAA-LDL levels were observed in current smokers versus non-smokers (median SAA-LDL level 36 μg/ml versus 28 μg/ml, respectively). This significant difference was reduced after adjusting for multiple confounders, including lipid levels. Smoking may be associated with increased levels of SAA-LDL in an obese Japanese population, but further studies are needed.