title: Reduction of circulating soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 plays a significant role in renal dysfunction-associated aggravation of atherosclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Renal dysfunction is commonly accompanied by a worsening of atherosclerosis; however, the underlying molecular mechanism is not fully understood. We examined the role played by soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), an endogenous antagonist of the proatherogenic cytokine placental growth factor (PlGF), in the worsening of atherosclerosis in patients with renal dysfunction and in an animal model of renal failure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, 329 patients who received cardiac catheterization and 76 patients who underwent renal biopsy were enrolled. Both plasma sFlt-1 levels and renal sFlt-1 mRNA expression were positively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (P<0.01). The PlGF/sFlt-1 ratio was negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (P<0.01), whereas plasma PlGF levels were not affected by it. The PlGF/sFlt-1 ratio was significantly higher in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease than in patients with single-vessel or no coronary artery disease. The reduction of circulating sFlt-1 and renal sFlt-1 mRNA levels was confirmed in five-sixths (5/6)-nephrectomized apolipoprotein E-deficient mice that developed experimental renal dysfunction. Atherosclerotic plaque area and macrophage infiltration into the plaque were significantly higher in 5/6-nephrectomized apolipoprotein E-deficient mice than in control mice, but replacement therapy with recombinant sFlt-1 significantly reduced both plaque formation and macrophage infiltration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrates that a reduction in the circulating levels of sFlt-1 is associated with the worsening of atherosclerosis that accompanies renal dysfunction.
authors: First Department of Internal Medicine, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8522 Japan.
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Onoue
authors: Shiro
authors: S
authors: Uemura
authors: Yukiji
authors: Y
authors: Takeda
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Somekawa
authors: Hajime
authors: H
authors: Iwama
authors: Keiichi
authors: K
authors: Imagawa
authors: Taku
authors: T
authors: Nishida
authors: Yoshinobu
authors: Y
authors: Morikawa
authors: Yasuhiro
authors: Y
authors: Takemoto
authors: Osamu
authors: O
authors: Asai
authors: Tsunenari
authors: T
authors: Soeda
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Okayama
authors: Kenichi
authors: K
authors: Ishigami
authors: Kimihiko
authors: K
authors: Nakatani
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Kawata
authors: Manabu
authors: M
authors: Horii
authors: Tamio
authors: T
authors: Nakajima
authors: Yasuhiro
authors: Y
authors: Akai
authors: Masayuki
authors: M
authors: Iwano
authors: Yoshihiko
authors: Y
authors: Saito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000172:deficiency; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy; D010926:Placental Hormones / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D011897:Random Allocation; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; C064980:GH2 protein, human; D010926:Placental Hormones; D013006:Growth Hormone; C501162:FLT1 protein, human; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1