Cytokine Profile and Concentrations of Metabolic Hormones in the Blood of Overweight Men with Coronary Arteriosclerosis.

Plasma concentrations of cytokines and metabolic hormones and their association with vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques were studied in 36 overweight men (age 40-77 years; BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m2) with coronary atherosclerosis who underwent coronary endarterectomy. According to histological analysis, the patients were divided into two groups: with stable (17 (47.2%) men) and vulnerable (19 (52.8%) men) plaques in the coronary arteries. The plasma levels of cytokines and metabolic hormones were measured by multiplex analysis: C-peptide, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), glucagon-like peptide-1, glucagon, IL-6, insulin, leptin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and TNFα. In overweight patients with vulnerable plaques, the level of glucagon was lower by 4.17 times, GIP - by 2.47 times, and insulin - by 2.1 times. At the same time, the risk of occurrence of a vulnerable plaque increases by 5.4% with a decrease in GIP concentration by 1 pg/ml irrespectively of age, as well as by 3.1% with an increase in insulin concentration by 10 pg/ml, without achieving statistical significance when included in the age model. Overweight men with coronary atherosclerosis and vulnerable plaques have lower levels of insulin, glucagon, and GIP. The levels of GIP and insulin are inversely associated with the risk of having vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque.

[The Study of Biochemical Factors of Calcification of Stable and Unstable Plaques in the Coronary Arteries of Man].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to study biochemical factors of calcification in stable and unstable plaques of coronary arteries and in the blood of patients with severe coronary atherosclerosis, to find associations of biochemical factors of calcification with the development of unstable atherosclerotic plaque. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 25 men aged 60,4±6,8 years who received coronary bypass surgery. In the course of the operation intraoperative indications in men were from coronary endarteriectomy (s) artery (a - d) and histological and biochemical analyses of the samples of the intima / media. Out of 85 fragments of intima / media of coronary arteries, 15 fragments of unchanged intima / media, 39 fragments of stable atheromatous plaque and 31 fragments of unstable plaque were determined. In homogenates of samples of intima / media (after measurement of protein by the method of Lowry) and in blood by ELISA were determined by biochemical factors of calcification: osteoprotegerin, osteocalcin, an osteopontin, osteonectin, as well as inflammatory factors (cytokines, chemokines). RESULTS: A significant direct correlation (Spearman coefficient =0.607, p<0.01) between the stages of atherosclerotic focus development to unstable plaque and the degree of calcification of atherosclerotic focus development samples was found. There was an increased content of osteocalcin in stable and unstable plaques by 3.3 times in comparison with the unchanged tissue of intima / media of coronary arteries, as well as in samples with small and dust-like, with coarse-grained calcifications in comparison with samples without calcifications by 2.8 and 2.1 times, respectively. According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, the relative risk of unstable atherosclerotic plaque in the coronary artery is associated with a reduced content of osteocalcin (OR=0.988, 95 % CI 0.978-0.999, p=0.028). Also, the relative risk of calcifications in the atherosclerotic plaque in the coronary artery is associated with an increased content of osteocalcin (OR=1,008, 95 % CI 1,001-1,015, p=0,035). In men with severe coronary atherosclerosis, a significant inverse correlation was found (Spearman coefficient -0.386, p=0.022) between the content of osteoprotegerin in the vascular wall and in the blood.

Association of some hemostasis and endothelial dysfunction factors with probability of presence of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques in patients with coronary atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: The study was dedicated to investigation of some hemostasis and endothelial dysfunction factors association with probability of presence of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques in coronary arteries in men with atherosclerosis. RESULTS: The blood levels of factor VII, factor XII and MCP-1 were higher, and concentration of sVCAM-1 lower in men with vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries, compared to men who had stable plaques. Have been revealed correlation links between the blood levels of factor II, factor XII, MCP-1 and the presence of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries. Results of logistic regression analysis showed that the relative risk of present of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries is associated with an elevated blood level of factor XII and MCP-1.

Associations of Osteocalcin, Osteoprotegerin, and Calcitonin with Inflammation Biomarkers in Atherosclerotic Plaques of Coronary Arteries.

We studied associations of osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin, and calcitonin with markers of inflammation in atherosclerotic plaques in coronary arteries and assessed the influence of these biomolecules on calcification of atherosclerotic plaques. The initial stage of calcification of atherosclerotic plaques is characterized by activation of inflammatory processes, which is seen from increased levels of proinflammatory biomarkers (IL-6, IL 8, TNF-α, and IL-1ß). Progressive calcification of atherosclerotic plaques is accompanied by insignificant accumulation of calcitonin and osteoprotegerin. The exception is osteocalcin, its concentration significantly increased during calcification. The results suggest that severe vascular calcification can be regarded as non-specific marker of atherosclerosis. Instability of atherosclerotic plaques is associated with higher level of calcification.