Associations of circulating cell-free DNA, C-reactive protein, and cardiometabolic risk among low-active smokers with
Teresa E Daniels1,2,3, Emily K Zitkovsky1,4, Zachary J Kunicki2
1Mood Disorders Research Program and Laboratory for Clinical and Translational, Neuroscience, Butler Hospital, 345 Blackstone Boulevard, Providence, RI, 02906, USA.
Background And Aims:
Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is elevated in several disease states. Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of factors associated with poor cardiometabolic outcomes. This study examined associations of cfDNA from the nucleus (cf-nDNA) and mitochondria (cf-mtDNA), C-reactive protein (CRP), and metabolic syndrome risk, in low-active smokers with depressive symptoms.
Methods:
Participants (N = 109; mean age 47) self-reported medical history. Physical activity was determined by accelerometry and anthropometrics were measured. Blood was collected and analyzed for cf-nDNA, cf-mtDNA, CRP, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, hemoglobin A1c. A continuous metabolic syndrome composite risk score was calculated. Relationships of cf-nDNA, cf-mtDNA, CRP, and cardiometabolic risk were examined with correlations and linear regression.
Results:
CRP and cf-nDNA were significantly associated with metabolic syndrome risk (r = .39 and r = .31, respectively), cf-mtDNA was not (r = .01). In a linear regression, CRP and cf-nDNA significantly predicted the metabolic syndrome risk score, findings that remained significant controlling for age, gender, nicotine dependence, and physical activity.
Conclusions:
Associations of cf-nDNA with both CRP and metabolic risk suggest a role for cf-nDNA in inflammatory processes associated with metabolic syndrome. The negative findings for cf-mtDNA suggest distinct roles for cf-nDNA and cf-mtDNA in these processes.
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