title: Circulating bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) is associated with serum lipids and endothelial function.
abstract: Bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI), a major constituent of neutrophils that possesses anti-inflammatory properties, shows a structure similar to some proteins implicated in lipid metabolism. We evaluated circulating BPI as a biomarker of endothelial function and lipid metabolism. Circulating BPI concentrations (ELISA) and serum lipids were measured in 202 Caucasian non-smoking men. In a subgroup of 91 consecutive subjects brachial vascular reactivity (high resolution external ultrasound) was assessed. Plasma BPI concentrations were positively associated with total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) (r= 0.203, 0.204 and 0.18; all p<0.05, respectively). In a multiple linear regression analysis, BPI levels were independent contributors to the variance of HDL-C, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol after adjusting for age, body mass index and glucose tolerance status. Plasma BPI concentration correlated positively with endothelium-dependent vasodilatation (r=0.277; p<0.05) and HDL-C (r=0.36; p<0.05) in subjects with normal glucose tolerance. In conclusion, circulating BPI could constitute a biomarker of lipid metabolism in subjects with normal glucose tolerance and could help to identify those subjects with preserved endothelial function.
authors.affiliation: Section of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Institut d'Investigació Biomédica de Girona, Girona, Spain.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Esteve
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Jose Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vendrell
authors.forename: Wifredo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ricart
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fernández-Real
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001798:Blood Proteins; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013030:Spain; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001798:Blood Proteins; D008055:Lipids; C021623:bactericidal permeability increasing protein