Altered serum concentrations of TGF-beta 1 and Lp(a) lipoprotein and their correlation in patients with first acute myocardial infarction.
OBJECTIVE
The association between high plasma Lp(a) lipoprotein and coronary heart disease has been confirmed in numerous case/control and prospective studies. A high Lp(a) level has also been shown to be an independent genetic risk factor, while its inverse relationship with TGF-beta 1 has suggested that it may interfere with plasmin-mediated activation of TGF-beta 1 and result in increased endothelial activation, as well as migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate Lp(a) and TGF-beta 1 and their interactions in patients with first acute myocardial infarction (AMI).


RESULTS
A total of 107 patients with first AMI and 103 age and sex-matched controls were studied. Very good agreement was found between QEI and RIA determinations of Lp(a) (p < 0.0001). Lp(a) levels were significantly elevated in cases (QEI: p < 0.031; RIA p < 0.002 respectively). Division by gender gave statistically significant differences in females only. Plasma levels of the active form of TGF-beta 1 were decreased in cases, though significantly (p < 0.029) in males only.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum concentrations of Lp(a) and TGF-beta 1 are significantly altered in AMI patients. The differences are gender-dependent: Lp(a) is higher in females, and TGF-beta 1 is lower in males. Increased Lp(a) levels are accompanied by decreased active TGF-beta 1 levels and this inverse correlation is statistically significant (p < 0.001).
Djurovic
S
S
Department of Medical Genetics, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Thelle
D S
DS
Ringstad
J
J
Christensen
B
B
Berg
K
K
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood*
D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta