title: Increased placental growth factor (PlGF) concentrations in children and adolescents with obesity and the metabolic syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Childhood obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) are associated with an increased risk for early onset endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. Placental growth factor (PlGF), a member of the vascular endothelial growth factor family, plays an important role in atherosclerosis by stimulating angiogenesis and atherogenic migration of monocytes/macrophages into the arterial wall. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in circulating PlGF concentrations between children with obesity/metabolic syndrome and non-obese children. We have previously shown increased high-sensitivity troponin (hs-TnT) concentrations in children with MetS from the same cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-seven obese (49 without and 8 with MetS) and 25 non-obese children (controls) were assessed at the Childhood Obesity Clinic of our Department. Obesity was defined using the IOTF criteria. MetS was defined based on the IDF criteria. PlGF was measured using electrochemiluminescence methodology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean PIGF concentrations of obese children were significantly higher (p=0.048) compared with those of the controls. Analysis of the three groups, the οbese (without MetS), the MetS and the control, demonstrated a significant difference in PlGF concentrations (p=0.035). Subgroup analysis revealed increased PlGF concentrations in children with the MetS compared to the controls (p=0.009). Troponin had a significant positive correlation with PlGF overall (p=0.003) and in the obese group (p=0.046).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased serum concentrations of PlGF, a biomarker of angiogenesis, are found in obese children with the MetS compared to non-obese controls, whereas PlGF correlated positively with troponin. Longitudinal studies may reveal the prognostic role of this biomarker in the progression of atherosclerosis in obese children with the MetS.
authors: Childhood Obesity Clinic, First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors: Panagiota
authors: P
authors: Pervanidou
authors: Childhood Obesity Clinic, First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors: Giorgos
authors: G
authors: Chouliaras
authors: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital; Athens, Greece.
authors: Athanassios
authors: A
authors: Akalestos
authors: Childhood Obesity Clinic, First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors: Despoina
authors: D
authors: Bastaki
authors: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital; Athens, Greece.
authors: Filia
authors: F
authors: Apostolakou
authors: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital; Athens, Greece.
authors: Ioannis
authors: I
authors: Papassotiriou
authors: Childhood Obesity Clinic, First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece, Department of Biochemistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA.
authors: George P
authors: GP
authors: Chrousos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor