Association between tissue human neutrophil peptide 1–3 levels and cardiovascular phenotype: a prospective, longitudinal cohort study

Abstract

Objective Inflammation is associated with atherogenesis. Although a higher neutrophil count is associated with the plaque burden, the role of neutrophil activation is unclear. Human neutrophil peptides 1–3 (HNP1–3) are a risk factor for atherogenesis in bench models and are elevated in human atheromas. This study aimed to examine the association between skin HNP1–3 deposition and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD), including long-term outcomes. Methods HNP1–3 levels were immunohistochemically quantified in skin biopsies, which were prospectively taken from 599 consecutive patients before clinically indicated coronary angiography. Established cardiovascular risk factors and blood markers for atheroinflammation were obtained. CAD severity and the incidence of repeat revascularization and mortality at 48 months of follow-up were assessed in relation to HNP1–3 levels. Results The risk of CAD was independently associated with age and HNP1–3 in the entire cohort (F = 0.71 and F = 7.4, respectively). Additionally, HNP1–3 levels were significantly associated with myocardial necrosis (R = 0.26). At the follow-up, high HNP1–3 levels negatively affected mortality (19.54%) and recurrent revascularization (8.05%). Conclusion HNP1–3 tissue deposition is positively associated with the severity of CAD, myonecrosis, and long-term sequelae. HNP1–3 levels may be suppressed using colchicine.

Human Neutrophil Alpha-Defensins Promote NETosis and Liver Injury in Alcohol-Related Liver Cirrhosis: Potential Therapeutic Agents

“…Another study, in which the participants were patients with decompensation of liver cirrhosis plasma HNP1-3, showed better predictive accuracy for 90-day mortality (area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve of 0.885)46 [ 46 ]. In the study by Abu Fanne et al, high HNP1-3 levels in patients with coronary artery disease negatively affected mortality (19.54%) and recurrent revascularization (8.05%), while high HNP1-3 levels were positively associated with myonecrosis and the severity of the disease [ 47 ]. The study by Abu Fanne et al shows the elevation of alpha-defensin concentrations in fibrotic liver areas [ 11 ].…”