Decreased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels in coronary artery aneurysmatic patients.
BACKGROUND
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of arterial aneurysms through increased proteolysis of extracellular matrix proteins. Increased proteolysis due to elevated matrix degrading enzyme activity in the arterial wall may act as a susceptibility factor for the development of coronary aneurysms. Plasmin strongly stimulates pro-MMP enzyme conversion to the active form. Plasmin hyperactivity due to decreased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) may cause MMP over activity and coronary aneurysms. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between PAI-1 and presence of coronary aneurysms.


METHODS
Twenty-three patients with aneurysmal coronary artery disease and stable angina were enrolled into study (Group 1). Twenty-two patients without coronary aneurysm were selected as a control group (Group 2). PAI-1 was measured in peripheral venous blood.


RESULTS
The plasma PAI-1 level was lower in the coronary artery aneurysmatic patients compared to the control group (8.41 +/- 4.28 vs. 13.32 +/- 10.05 ng/ml, p = 0.037). Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) values were not significantly different between groups (3.83 +/- 1.08 vs. 4.01 +/- 1.35 mg/l, p >0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Increased matrix degrading enzyme activity can cause arterial wall destruction through increased proteolysis of extracellular matrix proteins. Unregulated plasmin hyperactivity due to decreased inhibition by PAI-1 may play an important role in coronary aneurysm formation.
Ercan
Ertugrul
E
Department of Cardiology, Central Hospital, Izmir 35010, Turkey. ertugrulercan@yahoo.com
Tengiz
Istemihan
I
Duman
Can
C
Sekuri
Cevad
C
Aliyev
Emil
E
Mutlu
Birsen
B
Ercan
H Ekin
HE
Akin
Mustafa
M
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003323:Coronary Aneurysm / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood*
D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases