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The relationship between serum hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and coronary artery calcification in asymptomatic type 2
1Emergency Department, Wuhan General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Wu Luo Road, Hong Shan, Wuhan, China. marty007@163.com.
Insights
Serum hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) is linked to coronary artery calcification (CAC) in type 2 diabetes patients. Elevated HIF-1α may independently predict CAC presence and progression.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Cardiovascular Research
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) regulates oxygen homeostasis and is implicated in vascular calcification.
- HIF-1 is a heterodimer of HIF-1α and HIF-1β subunits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between serum HIF-1α levels and coronary artery calcification (CAC) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Main Methods:
- Serum HIF-1α and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured in 405 asymptomatic type 2 diabetes patients using ELISA.
- Coronary artery calcification (CAC) scores were assessed via 320-slice CT.
- Patients were stratified into four quartiles based on serum HIF-1α levels.
Main Results:
- Higher CAC scores were significantly associated with increased serum HIF-1α levels (p <0.001).
- Serum HIF-1α positively correlated with inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6), glycemic control (HbA1c), and CAC scores.
- Multivariate analysis confirmed HIF-1α as an independent predictor of CAC presence.
Conclusions:
- Elevated serum HIF-1α may serve as an independent risk factor for CAC in type 2 diabetes.
- These findings suggest a role for HIF-1α in the pathogenesis of vascular calcification within this patient population.
Background:
Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), a master regulator of oxygen homeostasis, is a heterodimer consisting of HIF-1α and HIF-1β subunits, and is implicated in calcification of cartilage and vasculature. The goal of this study was to determine the relationship between serum HIF-1α with coronary artery calcification (CAC) in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Methods:
The subjects were 405 (262 males, 143 females, age 51.3 ± 6.4 years) asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Serum HIF-1α and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured by ELISA. CAC scores were assessed by a 320-slice CT scanner. The subjects were divided into 4 quartiles depending on serum HIF-1α levels.
Results:
Average serum HIF-1α was 184.4 ± 66.7 pg/ml. Among patients with higher CAC scores, HIF-1α levels were also significantly increased (p <0.001). HIF-1α levels positively correlated with CRP, IL-6, UKPDS risk score, HbA1c, FBG, and CACS, but did not correlate with diabetes duration, age, and LDL. According to the multivariate analysis, HIF-1α levels significantly and independently predict the presence of CAC. ROC curve analysis showed that the serum HIF-1α level can predict the extent of CAC, but the specificity was lower than the traditional risk factors UKPDS and HbA1c.
Conclusion:
As a marker of hypoxia, serum HIF-1α level may be an independent risk factor for the presence of CAC. These findings indicate that elevated serum HIF-1α may be involved in vascular calcification in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
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