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HMGB1 is associated with atherosclerotic plaque composition and burden in patients with stable coronary artery

Martin Andrassy1, H Christian Volz, Bjoern Maack

  • 1Department of Cardiology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. martin.andrassy@med.uni-heidelberg.de

Plos One
|January 4, 2013
PubMed

Insights

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is linked to coronary plaque burden in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Combining HMGB1 with high sensitive troponin T (hsTnT) improves prediction of complex coronary plaque.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Inflammation Biology
  • Biomarker Discovery

Background:

  • Inflammation plays a key role in atherosclerosis.
  • High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is an inflammatory mediator implicated in atherosclerosis development.
  • The association between HMGB1 and coronary plaque characteristics requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association of plasma HMGB1 levels with coronary plaque composition.
  • To assess HMGB1 as a predictor of non-calcified plaque burden and vascular remodeling.
  • To compare the predictive value of HMGB1 with hsTnT and hsCRP.

Main Methods:

  • 152 patients with suspected or known stable coronary artery disease (CAD) underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).
  • Plasma levels of HMGB1, high sensitive troponin T (hsTnT), and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured.
  • CCTA was used to assess coronary calcification, non-calcified plaque burden, and vascular remodeling.

Main Results:

  • HMGB1, hsTnT, and hsCRP were associated with non-calcified plaque burden in univariate analysis.
  • HMGB1 and hsTnT remained independent predictors of non-calcified plaque burden in multivariate analysis.
  • Combining HMGB1 and hsTnT demonstrated a high positive predictive value for non-calcified and remodeled plaque.

Conclusions:

  • HMGB1 is independently associated with non-calcified plaque burden in stable CAD patients.
  • HMGB1, along with hsTnT, offers complementary value in predicting complex coronary plaque.
  • HMGB1 shows a stronger association with plaque burden than hsCRP.
Abstract

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