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Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Caspase-3 Activity in the Rat Amygdala Measured by Spectrofluorometry After Myocardial Infarction
08:41

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Published on: January 12, 2016

The association between plasma caspase-3, atherosclerosis, and vascular function in the Dallas Heart Study

Susan Matulevicius1, Anand Rohatgi, Amit Khera

  • 1Donald W. Reynolds Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.

Apoptosis : an International Journal on Programmed Cell Death
|September 3, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Plasma caspase-3 levels are independently linked to coronary calcium, aortic wall thickness, and aortic compliance. This suggests apoptosis plays a role in the development of atherosclerosis.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Biomarker Discovery
  • Apoptosis Research

Background:

  • Caspase-3, a key apoptosis protease, is present in atherosclerotic plaques.
  • Understanding its role in atherosclerosis is crucial for cardiovascular health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between plasma caspase-3 levels and atherosclerosis markers.
  • To determine if caspase-3 is an independent predictor of aortic abnormalities.

Main Methods:

  • Plasma caspase-3 levels were measured in 3,221 participants from the Dallas Heart Study.
  • Coronary calcium (CAC), aortic wall thickness (AWT), and aortic compliance (AC) were assessed using imaging techniques.
  • Multivariate analyses were conducted, controlling for various cardiovascular risk factors.

Main Results:

  • Caspase-3 levels showed a significant association with CAC, AWT, and AC in univariable analyses.
  • These associations remained significant after multivariable adjustment, confirming caspase-3 as an independent predictor.
  • Higher caspase-3 levels correlated with increased CAC, AWT, and decreased AC.

Conclusions:

  • Plasma caspase-3 is independently associated with markers of subclinical atherosclerosis.
  • These findings highlight a potential link between the apoptotic pathway and the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
  • Caspase-3 may serve as a novel biomarker for cardiovascular risk assessment.
Abstract

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