Association among plasma levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and subclinical atherosclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to evaluate the association between plasma levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and the risk for subclinical atherosclerosis.


BACKGROUND
Monocyte chemoattractant protein is a chemokine that recruits monocytes into the developing atheroma and may contribute to atherosclerotic disease development and progression. Plasma levels of MCP-1 are independently associated with prognosis in patients with acute coronary syndromes, but few population-based data are available from subjects in earlier stages of atherosclerosis.


METHODS
In the Dallas Heart Study, a population-based probability sample of adults in Dallas County </=65 years old, plasma levels of MCP-1 were measured in 3,499 subjects and correlated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and coronary artery calcium (CAC) measured by electron beam computed tomography.


RESULTS
Higher MCP-1 levels were associated with older age, white race, family history of premature coronary disease, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and higher levels of hs-CRP (p < 0.01 for each). Similar associations were observed between MCP-1 and risk factors in the subgroup of participants without detectable CAC. Compared with the subjects in the lowest quartile of MCP-1, the odds of prevalent CAC (CAC score >/=10) for subjects in the second, third, and fourth quartiles were 1.30 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.99 to 1.73), 1.60 (95% CI 1.22 to 2.11), and 2.02 (95% CI 1.54 to 2.63), respectively. The association between MCP-1 and CAC remained significant when adjusted for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, but not when further adjusted for age.


CONCLUSIONS
In a large population-based sample, plasma levels of MCP-1 were associated with traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis, supporting the hypothesis that MCP-1 may mediate some of the atherogenic effects of these risk factors. These findings support the potential role of MCP-1 as a biomarker target for drug development.
Deo
Rajat
R
Donald W. Reynolds Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Khera
Amit
A
McGuire
Darren K
DK
Murphy
Sabina A
SA
Meo Neto
Januario de P
Jde P
Morrow
David A
DA
de Lemos
James A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013781:Texas; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; C111835:CCL2 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002118:Calcium