Associations of adipocytokine expression and cardiovascular risk factors in stable coronary artery disease

Abstract

Aim. To determine the expression of adiponectin, leptin and I interleukin-6 (IL-6) in subcutaneous, epicardial and perivascular adipose tissue, depending on the presence of cardiovascular risk factors.Material and methods. The study included 90 patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. Samples of adipose tissue were obtained during surgery. The levels of matrix ribonucleic acid (mRNA) of the studied adipocytokines were determined in the presence/absence of the main cardiovascular risk factors.Results. Differences in the expression of genes of the studied adipocytokines in different sex and age groups of patients were revealed, depending on the tissue belonging of adipocytes. Expression of adiponectin in the epicardial and perivascular adipose tissue (EАT and PVAT, respectively), as well as of leptin in the PVAT was less pronounced in men. However, the level of IL-6 mRNA in the subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) of men was three times higher than in women, and in the PVAT it was lower. The maximum expression of leptin and IL-6 in the EAT and PVAT was found in persons aged 50-59 years. The presence of dyslipidemia is associated with a decrease in the expression of adiponectin in the EAT, PVAT, and IL-6 in the PVAT. In patients with hypertension (HTN), there was a low level of adiponectin mRNA in the EAT against the background of high leptin levels in the EAT and IL-6 in SAT and EAT. In hypertension with a duration of more than 20 years, there was a decrease in adiponectin expression and an increase in leptin in all types of AT. In smokers, an increase in the expression of adiponectin in the SAT, EAT, PVAT and leptin in the SAT, EAT was found.Conclusion. Associations of traditional cardiovascular risk factors with imbalance of adipocytokines of local fat depots in patients with CAD were revealed. The detected imbalance is manifested by a decrease in the expression of cardioprotective adiponectin in the EAT, PVAT, an increase in leptin and IL-6, which is an unfavorable sign. The presence of such risk factors as male sex, age of 50-59 years, dyslipidemia and hypertension in patients can enhance atherogenesis and contribute to the further progression of CAD.