High Plasma Levels of Soluble Talin-1 in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Talin-1 is a cytoskeletal protein that binds integrin, thereby leading to integrin activation and affecting focal adhesions. Recently, talin-1 expression was reported to be downregulated in human atherosclerotic plaques. However, blood levels of soluble talin-1 (sTalin-1) in patients with atherosclerotic disease, such as coronary artery disease (CAD), have not been elucidated.

We measured plasma sTalin-1 levels in 349 patients undergoing elective coronary angiography. The severity of CAD was represented as the number of stenotic coronary vessels and segments.

Of the 349 study patients, CAD was found in 194 patients, of whom 88 had 1-vessel disease (1-VD), 60 had 2-vessel disease (2-VD), and 46 had 3-vessel disease (3-VD). Plasma sTalin-1 levels were higher in 194 patients with CAD than in 155 without CAD (CAD(-) group) (median 0.30 vs. 0.23 ng/mL, P < 0.005). A stepwise increase in sTalin-1 levels was found depending on the number of >50% stenotic coronary vessels: 0.23 in CAD(-), 0.29 in 1-VD, 0.30 in 2-VD, and 0.32 ng/mL in 3-VD group, respectively, (P < 0.05). High sTalin-1 level (>0.28 ng/mL) was found in 36% of CAD(-), 51% of 1-VD, 53% of 2-VD, and 59% of 3-VD group (P < 0.025). sTalin-1 levels also correlated with the number of >50% stenotic segments (r = 0.14, P < 0.02). The multivariate analysis revealed that sTalin-1 levels were independently associated with CAD. The odds ratio for CAD was 1.83 (95%CI = 1.14 - 2.93) for high sTalin-1 level (>0.28 ng/mL) (P < 0.02).

Plasma sTalin-1 levels in patients with CAD were found to be high and to be associated with the presence and severity of CAD, suggesting a role of sTalin-1 in the progression of coronary atherosclerosis.