title: Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) promoter methylation associated with PTX3 plasma levels and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in coronary artery disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is expressed in the heart under inflammatory conditions and plays an important role in atherogenesis. Patients with increased PTX3 levels may suffer from higher rates of cardiac events. Regulation of specific genes by promoter methylation is important in atherogenesis. The factors influencing PTX3 levels and the association between epigenetics and PTX3 levels have not been investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were collected from 64 patients admitted to the Department of Cardiology, 35 who had coronary artery disease (CAD), and 29 who were CAD-free. Plasma levels of PTX3 were measured by ELISA. PTX3 promoter methylation was evaluated via methyl-specific PCR. The severity of coronary artery lesion was evaluated by angiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The level of PTX3 promoter methylation in the CAD group was 62.69% ± 20.57%, significantly lower than that of the CAD-free group, which was 72.45% ± 11.84% (P= 0.03). Lower PTX3 promoter methylation levels in the CAD group were associated with higher plasma PTX3 concentrations (r= -0.29,P= 0.02). Furthermore, lower PTX3 promoter methylation levels were associated with higher neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in men (r= -0.58,P= 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study provides new evidence that methylation of the PTX3 promoter is associated with PTX3 plasma levels and NLR in coronary artery disease. This study also shows that modification of epigenetics by chronic inflammation might be a significant molecular mechanism in the atherosclerotic processes that influence plasma PTX3 concentrations.
authors: Department of Geriatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Institute of Geriatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors: Tang-Meng
authors: TM
authors: Guo
authors: Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, People's Hospital of Dongxihu District, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors: Li-Li
authors: LL
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Cardiology, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
authors: Kai
authors: K
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Geriatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Institute of Geriatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Ke
authors: Department of Neurology, the First Hospital of Jingzhou, Clinical Medical College,Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, China.
authors: Zhi-Jian
authors: ZJ
authors: Luo
authors: Department of Geriatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Institute of Geriatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors: Yun-Qiao
authors: YQ
authors: Li
authors: Department of Geriatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Institute of Geriatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors: Xing-Lin
authors: XL
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Geriatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Institute of Geriatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors: Bei
authors: B
authors: Cheng
keywords: Coronary artery disease; Lymphocyte; Methylation; Neutrophil; Pentraxin 3