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Elastase-type activity, elastase inhibitory capacity, lipids and lipoproteins in the sera of patients with ischemic
Insights
Atherosclerotic patients show elevated pancreatic elastase inhibitory capacity and reduced HDL cholesterol and apo-A levels. Elastase activity is higher in women, but not correlated with lipoprotein levels in these patients.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Ischemic vascular disease (IVD) is linked to altered serum lipoprotein profiles.
- Elastase activity and its inhibition are implicated in various pathological processes, including atherosclerosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate elastase-type activity and elastase inhibitory capacity in atherosclerotic patients with IVD.
- To examine the relationship between these enzymatic markers and serum lipoprotein constituents.
Main Methods:
- Sera from 130 atherosclerotic patients and 60 controls were analyzed for elastase-type activity and inhibitory capacity.
- Serum lipoprotein constituents (triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, apo-A, apo-B) were quantified.
Main Results:
- HDL cholesterol and apo-A levels were decreased in all IVD sites.
- Elastase-type activity was significantly higher in women than men within atherosclerotic groups.
- Pancreatic elastase inhibitory capacity was significantly elevated in patients and negatively correlated with HDL cholesterol and apo-A.
Conclusions:
- Elevated pancreatic elastase inhibitory capacity and altered lipoprotein profiles are associated with ischemic vascular disease.
- Sex-specific differences in elastase activity exist in atherosclerosis.
- The correlation between elastase activity and inhibitory capacity observed in controls was absent in atherosclerotic patients.
Abstract:
Elastase-type activity and elastase inhibitory capacity were determined in the sera of 130 atherosclerotic patients, suffering from ischemic vascular disease (IVD) localized at various sites, and of 60 control subjects. The concentrations of serum lipoprotein constituents (triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, apo-A, apo-B) have also been investigated. HDL cholesterol and apo-A levels were decreased at every site on IVD. Plasma HDL concentration in men was lower than that in women. There was a sex-related difference in the elastase-type activity of the sera: within every atherosclerotic group, elastase-type activity in women was significantly higher than in men. Elastase-type activity did not appear to vary with age and did not show any correlation with the concentration of serum lipoprotein constituents. Pancreatic elastase inhibitory capacity of sera was significantly elevated in the sera of atherosclerotic patients. There was a significant negative correlation between the inhibitory capacity and the HDL cholesterol and apo-A content of sera, respectively. Inhibitory capacity did not show sex-, or age-related variation. There was a significant positive correlation between elastase-type activity and elastase inhibitory capacity measured in control sera. In the sera of atherosclerotic patients this correlation could not be established.