title: Circulating cell-free DNA is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors: the Health 2000 Survey.
abstract: Cell-free circulating DNA (cf-DNA) has recently arisen as a promising biomarker in acute cardiovascular pathologies and as a mortality predictor in myocardial infarction. We wanted to investigate whether the baseline cf-DNA concentration could serve as an indicator of increased cardiovascular risk and early atherosclerosis. The study population consisted of 1337 participants (aged 46-77 years) in the Health 2000 Survey. cf-DNA was quantified directly in plasma using the fluorescence-based Quant-iT™ high-sensitivity DNA assay kit. Increased cf-DNA levels paralleled a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors, such as high blood pressure, unfavorable lipid metabolism profile and systemic inflammation in both sexes. In addition, higher cf-DNA levels indicated decreased arterial elasticity and glucose intolerance in women not using hormonal replacement therapy (HRT). The cf-DNA level was also observed to be an independent determinant for Young's elastic modulus but not for carotid artery compliance or beta stiffness index in the women not using HRT. Hence, we conclude that cf-DNA could serve as an auxiliary biomarker in cardiometabolic risk assessment and as an indicator of arterial stiffness in women not using HRT.
authors: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Tampere, FIN-33014 Tampere, Finland. Electronic address: juulia.jylhava@uta.fi.
authors: Juulia
authors: J
authors: Jylhävä
authors: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories and University of Tampere, School of Medicine, Tampere, Finland.
authors: Terho
authors: T
authors: Lehtimäki
authors: Department of Chronic Disease Prevention, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Turku, Finland.
authors: Antti
authors: A
authors: Jula
authors: Department of Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
authors: Leena
authors: L
authors: Moilanen
authors: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Clinical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors: Y Antero
authors: YA
authors: Kesäniemi
authors: Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Hospital, P.O. Box 340, FI-00029 HUS Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Markku S
authors: MS
authors: Nieminen
authors: Department of Clinical Physiology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland; University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors: Mika
authors: M
authors: Kähönen
authors: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Tampere, FIN-33014 Tampere, Finland; Fimlab Laboratories, Tampere, Finland.
authors: Mikko
authors: M
authors: Hurme
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D004548:Elasticity; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D018149:Glucose Intolerance; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004247:DNA
keywords: Arterial stiffness; Biomarker; Cardiometabolic risk; Early atherosclerosis; cf-DNA