title: Angiogenesis and biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in adults with metabolic syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis and fatal cardiovascular events. Angiogenesis is thought to contribute to this risk as it might be involved in the progression of atherosclerotic plaques. We investigated the levels of circulating biomarkers of angiogenesis and cardiovascular risk in adults with MetSyn and assessed their association with established metabolic risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Genetic Park project is a highly inclusive cross-sectional survey (about 80% of residents) conducted in three isolated populations in Southern Italy. A total of 1000 men and women (age range: 18-98 years) were included in the analysis. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were recorded. Metabolic and cardiovascular biomarkers included glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL, vascular endothelial growth factor, placental growth factor (PlGF), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-TnT) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects with MetSyn had higher levels of PlGF and NT-proBNP after adjustment for age, smoking and body mass index. Circulating levels of PlGF, hs-TnT and NT-proBNP were directly related to the number of criteria of MetSyn, and this association interacted with gender. There was a strong correlation between ageing and cardiovascular risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increase in circulating levels of biomarkers of angiogenesis and cardiac function in subjects with MetSyn mirrors the pathophysiological changes occurring in the cardiovascular system. Over time, these changes might accelerate the formation and progression of atherosclerotic plaques and contribute significantly to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality risk.
authors.affiliation: Human Nutrition and Physiology, Department of Neuroscience, University Federico II, Faculty of Medicine, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siervo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ruggiero
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sorice
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nutile
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aversano
authors.forename: B C M
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Stephan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciullo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000150:complications; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers