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Hepatocyte growth factor and carotid intima-media thickness in relation to circulating CD34-positive cell levels

Yuji Shimizu1,2, Shimpei Sato3, Jun Koyamatsu4

  • 1Department of Community Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki-shi, Sakamoto 1-12-4, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan. shimizuyuji@nagasaki-u.ac.jp.

Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine
|May 5, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is linked to carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in elderly men, but only when circulating CD34-positive cell levels are low. These cell levels appear to modify the HGF-CIMT association, highlighting their role in vascular health.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Endocrinology
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potential biomarker for vascular damage.
  • Limited evidence exists on the association between HGF and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT).
  • Both HGF and circulating CD34-positive cells are crucial for endothelial repair, potentially influencing the HGF-CIMT relationship.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between HGF and CIMT in elderly Japanese men.
  • To determine if circulating CD34-positive cell levels modify the relationship between HGF and CIMT.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 269 elderly Japanese men (aged 60-69 years).
  • Data collected during annual medical checkups between 2014 and 2015.
  • Multivariable linear regression analysis used to assess associations and interactions.

Main Results:

  • A significant positive association was found between HGF and CIMT specifically in men with low circulating CD34-positive cell levels (multi-adjusted β = 0.26, p = 0.005).
  • No significant association was observed between HGF and CIMT in men with high circulating CD34-positive cell levels (multi-adjusted β = 0.002, p = 0.986).
  • A significant interaction between HGF and circulating CD34-positive cell levels on CIMT was detected (multivariable p = 0.049).

Conclusions:

  • The positive association between HGF and CIMT in community-dwelling elderly Japanese men is confined to individuals with low circulating CD34-positive cell counts.
  • Circulating CD34-positive cell levels play a critical role in modulating the impact of HGF on CIMT in this population.
Abstract

Keywords:
CD34-positive cellCIMTElderly menEndothelial repairHGF

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