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Updated: Jun 20, 2026
Isolation, Characterization, and Proteomic Analysis of Plasma-Derived Extracellular Vesicles for Cardiovascular Biomarker Discovery
Published on: January 31, 2025
Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A: Has this biomarker crossed the boundary from research to clinical practice?
Luciano Consuegra-Sanchez1, Salim Fredericks, Juan Carlos Kaski
1Unidad de Hemodinámica, Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario del Rosell, Cartagena, Spain.
Insights
Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) is linked to atherosclerosis and vascular injury. Research explores its role as a risk marker and pathogenic factor in cardiovascular disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Biomarker Discovery
- Atherosclerosis Research
Background:
- Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) is implicated in the atherosclerotic process.
- PAPP-A levels correlate with vascular injury, atherosclerotic disease extent, and vulnerable plaque identification.
- Its potential utility in clinical risk stratification is under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of PAPP-A in atherosclerosis.
- To examine PAPP-A as a risk marker and pathogenic factor.
- To discuss PAPP-A's potential role alongside cardiac troponins in acute myocardial infarction.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on PAPP-A and atherosclerosis.
- Analysis of PAPP-A's association with vascular injury and plaque characteristics.
- Discussion of assay limitations and clinical applications.
Main Results:
- Substantial evidence links PAPP-A to atherosclerotic development and vascular injury.
- PAPP-A is proposed as a marker for disease presence, extent, and plaque vulnerability.
- Controversy exists regarding assays measuring total versus free PAPP-A.
Conclusions:
- PAPP-A is a significant factor in atherosclerotic disease.
- It holds potential as a risk stratification tool in various clinical settings.
- Further research is needed to clarify assay methodologies and its complementary role in acute coronary syndromes.
Abstract:
There is already a substantial body of evidence suggesting that pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) participates in the atherosclerotic process. In several studies, PAPP-A has been associated with the development of vascular injury. PAPP-A has been proposed as a marker of the presence and extent of atherosclerotic disease and high-risk vulnerable plaques. It has been suggested that PAPP-A could have a role in the risk stratification of subjects in different clinical settings. Controversy exists, however, regarding the ability of commercially available assays to measure total versus free PAPP-A. The determination of PAPP-A, particularly in the very early phases of an acute myocardial infarction, may have a complementary role to that of cardiac troponins. This article focuses on the role of PAPP-A as both a marker of risk and a pathogenic factor in atherosclerotic disease.
