The relationship between carotid intima-media thickness and serum secreted frizzled-related protein-4 and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 in diabetic patients with cardiovascular diseases

SFRP4 Reduces Atherosclerosis Plaque Formation in ApoE Deficient Mice

Secreted frizzled related protein 4 (SFRP4), a member of the SFRPs family, contributes to a significant function in metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. However, there is not enough evidence to prove the antiatherosclerosis effect of SFRP4 in ApoE knock-out (KO) mice. ApoE KO mice were fed a western diet and injected adenovirus (Ad)-SFRP4 through the tail vein for 12 weeks. Contrasted with the control cohort, the area of atherosclerotic plaque in ApoE KO mice overexpressing SFRP4 was reduced significantly. Plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was elevated in the Ad-SFRP4 group. RNA sequence analysis indicated that there were 96 differentially expressed genes enriched in 10 signaling pathways in the mRNA profile of aortic atherosclerosis lesions. The analysis data also revealed the expression of a number of genes linked to metabolism, organism system, and human disease. In summary, our data demonstrates that SFRP4 could play an important role in improving atherosclerotic plaque formation in the aorta.

Inverse Associations Between Circulating Secreted Frizzled Related Protein 2 (sFRP2) and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors

Background: Secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (sFRP2) plays an important role in metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs); However, its relevance with cardiometabolic diseases remains to be elucidated. We aimed to determine the serum levels of sFRP2 in patients at different stages of heart failure (HF) with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and assess the correlation between circulating sFRP2 levels and cardiometabolic risk factors. Methods: In this study, serum samples from 277 patients visiting Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University were collected. These patients were clinically diagnosed and categorized as five groups, including the control group, pre-clinical HF group, pre-clinical HF+T2DM group, HF group and HF+T2DM group. Serum sFRP2 levels were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests and the clinical characteristics of each patient were recorded. Spearman rank correlation analysis and multiple stepwise linear regression analysis were conducted. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to screen risk factors for HF in patients with CVDs. Results: Serum sFRP2 levels were significantly lower in the HF+T2DM group compared with the other four groups. Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that sFRP2 was negatively correlated with parameters including patients' age, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), cardiac troponin T (cTNT), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), left atrial dimension (LAD) and left ventricular posterior wall (LVPW), and positively correlated with hemoglobin, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), albumin, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). However, in multiple regression analysis, significant associations with ln(sFRP2) were observed only in FPG, hs-CRP and LAD. Higher serum sFRP2 was significantly linked to lower odds of HF in patients with CVDs. Conclusion: sFRP2 progressively decreased when glucose homeostasis and cardiac function deteriorated. sFRP2 acted as a risk factor for HF in patients with CVDs, especially in those with concomitant T2DM.

Secreted Frizzled Related Proteins in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases

Abnormal gene expression and secreted protein levels are accompanied by extensive pathological changes. Secreted frizzled related protein (SFRP) family members are antagonistic inhibitors of the Wnt signaling pathway, and they were recently found to be involved in the pathogenesis of a variety of metabolic diseases, which has led to extensive interest in SFRPs. Previous reports highlighted the importance of SFRPs in lipid metabolism, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we provide a detailed introduction of SFRPs, including their structural characteristics, receptors, inhibitors, signaling pathways and metabolic disease impacts. In addition to summarizing the pathologies and potential molecular mechanisms associated with SFRPs, this review further suggests the potential future use of SFRPs as disease biomarkers therapeutic targets.

Role of Sfrps in cardiovascular disease

Secreted frizzled-related proteins (Sfrps) are a family of secreted proteins that bind extracellularly to Wnt ligands and frizzled receptors. This binding modulates the Wnt signaling cascade, and Sfrps interact with their corresponding receptors. Sfrps are thought to play an important role in the pathological mechanism of cardiac disease such as myocardial infarction, cardiac remodeling, and heart failure. However, the overall role of Sfrps in cardiac disease is unknown. Some members of the Sfrps family modulate cellular apoptosis, angiogenesis, differentiation, the inflammatory process, and cardiac remodeling. In this review, we summarize the evidence of Sfrps association with cardiac disease. We also discuss how multiple mechanisms may underlie Sfrps being involved in such diverse pathologies.