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Serum osteopontin, but not OPN gene polymorphism, is associated with LVH in essential hypertensive patients

Xuwei Hou1, Zhaohui Hu, Xiaohua Huang

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Hangzhou First Municipal Hospital & Hangzhou Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, 261 Huasha Road, 310006, Hangzhou, China.

Journal of Molecular Medicine (Berlin, Germany)
|December 28, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Serum thrombin-cleaved osteopontin (OPN) levels, not OPN gene variations, are linked to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in essential hypertension (EH) patients. Thrombin-cleaved OPN promotes cardiomyocyte growth in laboratory settings.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Genetics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Essential hypertension (EH) is a major risk factor for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).
  • Osteopontin (OPN) is implicated in cardiovascular remodeling, but its role in EH-related LVH is unclear.
  • The influence of OPN genetic polymorphisms on LVH risk in EH patients requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between OPN gene polymorphisms and LVH in Chinese patients with EH.
  • To determine the relationship between serum thrombin-cleaved OPN levels and LVH in EH.
  • To explore the direct effect of thrombin-cleaved OPN on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in vitro.

Main Methods:

  • Genotyping of three OPN promoter single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 1,092 EH patients.
  • Measurement of serum thrombin-cleaved OPN levels.
  • In vitro experiments assessing OPN's effect on cardiomyocyte size and protein expression.

Main Results:

  • No significant association was found between the studied OPN SNPs and the risk or severity of LVH.
  • OPN gene polymorphisms did not correlate with serum OPN levels.
  • Serum thrombin-cleaved OPN levels were identified as an independent risk factor for LVH in EH patients (adjusted OR = 2.47).
  • In vitro, thrombin-cleaved OPN treatment dose-dependently increased cardiomyocyte size and atrial natriuretic peptide expression.

Conclusions:

  • Serum thrombin-cleaved OPN levels, but not OPN gene polymorphisms, are associated with LVH development in essential hypertension.
  • Thrombin-cleaved OPN directly stimulates cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.
  • These findings highlight serum thrombin-cleaved OPN as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for LVH in EH.
Abstract

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