Leptin, soluble interleukin-6 receptor, C-reactive protein and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 levels in human coronary atherosclerotic plaque

Abstract

SummaryThe aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between tissue levels of leptin, soluble interleukin-6 receptor (sIL-6R), high-sensitive-C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) in atherosclerotic plaques, and traditional risk factors. Coronary artery specimens were obtained from 35 consecutive patients (26 men and nine women) who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting procedure. The mean tissue levels of leptin, hs-CRP and sIL-6R were significantly higher in patients with diabetes mellitus than without diabetes mellitus. When patients were classified according to the smoking status, the mean tissue levels of leptin, hs-CRP and sIL-6R were significantly higher in current smokers than both former smokers and non-smokers. In addition, the mean tissue levels of leptin and sIL-6R were significantly higher in former smokers than non-smokers. There was a positive association between leptin and hs-CRP, sIL-6R and plasma glucose in all patients. Plasma HDL levels were associated negatively with atherosclerotic tissue levels of leptin. Tissue levels of sIL-6R were associated significantly in a positive manner with leptin, hs-CRP and plasma glucose, while tissue levels of hs-CRP were associated with both leptin and sIL-6R. In conclusion, it is attractive to speculate that hs-CRP, sIL-6R and leptin could act synergistically in course of local inflammatory activity and those molecules may not be just markers of inflammation and cardiovascular risk but are also likely to play a pathogenic role in atheromatous plaque. In addition, atherosclerotic tissue levels of CRP, sIL-6R and leptin were significantly higher in current smokers and patients with diabetes.

Implication of lipocalin-2 and visfatin levels in patients with coronary heart disease

“…Lower serum adiponectin levels have been reported in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) (2,3) and have been shown to be a risk factor for cardiovascular events (4). In addition, it has recently been suggested that IL-6, TNF-a, leptin, and adiponectin may not only be just markers of inflammation and cardiovascular (CV) risk but are also likely to play a pathogenic role in atheromatous plaque (5,6).…”

High habitual dietary α-linolenic acid intake is associated with decreased plasma soluble interleukin-6 receptor concentrations in male twins

“…In a recent study, higher serum sIL-6R concentrations were associated with more severe sleep-related breathing disorders-a CVD risk factor (30). IL-6R concentrations in humans' atherosclerotic plaques are positively associated with CVD risk factors, including smoking and diabetes (31). A paradoxically adverse relation between blood cholesterol concentrations and CVD mortality in hemodialysis patients has been attributed to less sIL-6R released from activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (32).…”

Cardiometabolic comorbidities and rheumatic diseases: Focus on the role of fat mass and adipokines

“…On the other hand, leptin has been proven to be an efficient vasodilator in humans with coronary artery disease (22). It has been proposed that leptin could play a role in the pathogenesis of atheromatous plaques acting synergistically with other inflammatory mediators (23). The proposed proatherogenic actions of leptin are supported by the demonstration that, in vitro, leptin stimulates the proliferation and hypertrophy of vascular smooth muscle cells and the production of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), promotes vascular production of proliferative and profibrotic cytokines, increases the secretion of the proatherogenic lipoprotein lipase by cultured human and murine macrophages, enhances platelet aggregation (14), and is able to induce C-reactive protein expression in human coronary artery endothelial cells (24).…”