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alpha-Defensin: link between inflammation and atherosclerosis

Hisham Nassar1, Ehud Lavi, Sa'ed Akkawi

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, IL 91120, Israel.

Atherosclerosis
|September 23, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Alpha-defensins, found in atherosclerotic arteries, are strong predictors of coronary artery disease (CAD) severity in men. This finding links neutrophil activation to atherosclerosis progression, offering a new risk assessment approach.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Immunology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Inflammation markers predict thrombotic cardiovascular events in atherosclerosis patients.
  • The role of vascular inflammation in atherothrombotic disease is not fully understood.
  • Human neutrophil peptides 1-3 (alpha-defensins) are present in atherosclerotic arteries and affect LDL metabolism and fibrinolysis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if alpha-defensins are risk factors for the presence and severity of atherosclerosis.
  • To determine the correlation between alpha-defensin deposition in skin and coronary artery disease (CAD) severity.

Main Methods:

  • Alpha-defensin levels were measured in skin biopsies from 53 male patients undergoing coronary artery catheterization.
  • Established cardiovascular risk factors were concurrently measured.
  • Correlation and regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between skin alpha-defensin and CAD severity.

Main Results:

  • A significant correlation was found between skin alpha-defensin levels and CAD severity (R=0.40, p=0.003).
  • Skin alpha-defensin independently predicted CAD severity in multiple regression analysis (F=4.68, p=0.035).
  • Logistic regression confirmed skin alpha-defensin as an independent predictor of CAD likelihood (p=0.016, odds ratio 5.97).

Conclusions:

  • Skin alpha-defensin deposition is a significant independent predictor of CAD in men.
  • These findings suggest a connection between neutrophil activation and atherosclerosis progression.
  • Alpha-defensin measurement may offer a novel method for assessing CAD risk factors.
Abstract

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