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Cytomegalovirus seropositivity and serum total cholesterol levels in young patients
M K Froberg1, N Seacotte, E Dahlberg
1Department of Pathology and Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota-Duluth School of Medicine, 10 University Drive, Duluth, MN 55812, USA. kfroberg@d.umn.edu
Insights
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is linked to higher total cholesterol in younger women. This study found CMV-seropositivity associated with elevated cholesterol in females under 50, but not males.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Disease Research
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
- Lipid Metabolism Studies
Background:
- Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory arterial disease influenced by various factors, including infections like cytomegalovirus (CMV).
- CMV has been implicated in atherogenesis, with evidence suggesting it may affect lipid metabolism and cholesterol accumulation in plaques.
- Limited research exists on the link between CMV infection and serum cholesterol in younger populations, a critical period for atherogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between cytomegalovirus (CMV) seropositivity and serum total cholesterol levels in patients under 50 years of age.
- To determine if CMV infection status correlates with elevated cholesterol in younger individuals, particularly examining gender differences.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples from 172 patients under 50 years old were analyzed for CMV IgG levels and total cholesterol concentrations.
- Univariate analysis of variance was employed to assess correlations between CMV seropositivity, age, gender, and total cholesterol.
- Specific comparisons were made between CMV-seropositive and CMV-seronegative groups, stratified by gender.
Main Results:
- Serum total cholesterol showed a significant correlation with age and CMV seropositivity when gender was considered as a cofactor.
- CMV-seropositive women under 50 had significantly higher average serum total cholesterol (218 mg/dL) compared to CMV-seronegative women (194 mg/dL, p < 0.02).
- No significant difference in serum total cholesterol was found between CMV-seropositive and CMV-seronegative men under 50.
Conclusions:
- CMV seropositivity is associated with elevated serum total cholesterol levels in female patients under 50 years of age.
- The association between CMV infection and higher cholesterol appears to be gender-specific in younger adults.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms behind CMV's impact on cholesterol metabolism in women.
Abstract:
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of arteries, associated with multiple genetic and environmental factors, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cigarette smoking, modified and elevated LDL cholesterol, elevated plasma homocysteine, and infectious microorganisms such as Chlamydia pneumoniae and cytomegalovirus (CMV). CMV has been implicated in atherogenesis by epidemiological studies, animal research, and molecular analyses that have demonstrated CMV nucleic acids within human atherosclerotic lesions. Studies have suggested that CMV infection may alter lipid metabolism and lead to accumulation of cholesterol within atheromatous plaques. Few studies have examined the relationship between CMV infection and serum cholesterol levels in younger individuals when much of atherogenesis occurs. To test if CMV-seropositivity is associated with high levels of serum total cholesterol in relatively young patients, CMV IgG levels and total cholesterol concentrations were analyzed in serums from 172 patients, age < 50 yr. Based on univariate analysis of variance, serum total cholesterol was significantly correlated to age and to CMV-seropositivity when gender was a cofactor, but not to gender or CMV-seropositivity alone. In 39 CMV-seropositive women, serum total cholesterol concentration averaged 218 +/- 50 mg/dL (mean +/- SD), which was significantly higher than in 53 CMV-seronegative women (194 +/- 39 mg/dL, p < 0.02). No significant difference was observed between the serum total cholesterol concentrations in 26 CMV-seropositive men and 51 CMV-seronegative men (198 +/- 42 mg/dL versus 212 +/- 48 mg/dl, respectively). Thus, this study provides evidence that CMV-seropositivity is associated with higher serum total cholesterol levels in female patients under 50 yr of age, but not in male patients of comparable age.