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Serum hepatocyte growth factor as a possible indicator of arteriosclerosis
M Nishimura1, M Ushiyama, A Nanbu
1Department of Clinical and Laboratory Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.
Insights
Higher serum hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) levels correlate with more severe arteriosclerosis. This suggests HGF may serve as a valuable biomarker for systemic arteriosclerosis progression, independent of blood pressure.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Biochemistry
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Arteriosclerosis is a significant cardiovascular disease.
- Retinal arteriosclerosis provides a window into systemic vascular health.
- The role of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in arteriosclerosis requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the association between serum HGF concentrations and the severity of retinal arteriosclerotic lesions.
- To determine if HGF levels can serve as a biomarker for systemic arteriosclerosis.
Main Methods:
- Serum HGF levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 112 adults.
- Retinal arteriosclerosis was graded using Scheie's classification from fundus photographs.
- Various clinical and biochemical parameters, including blood pressure and lipid profiles, were also assessed.
Main Results:
- Serum HGF concentrations were significantly higher in individuals with advanced grades of retinal arteriosclerosis.
- HGF levels showed a positive correlation with serum uric acid and erythrocyte counts.
- No significant correlation was found between HGF levels and blood pressure or other measured parameters.
Conclusions:
- Elevated serum HGF levels are indicative of the presence and progression of arteriosclerotic lesions.
- HGF may function as a useful biochemical marker for estimating systemic arteriosclerosis development.
- HGF's potential as a biomarker is independent of blood pressure readings.
Objective:
To investigate the possible involvement of hepatocyte growth factor in arteriosclerotic lesions, by studying the relationship between serum concentrations of hepatocyte growth factor and grades of retinal arteriosclerosis.
Methods:
We measured the blood pressure, body mass index, serum concentrations of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, uric acid, total protein, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, and hepatocyte growth factor, erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin concentration, and hematocrit levels of 112 adults. Serum concentrations of hepatocyte growth factor were measured by a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. For each subject, photographs of both optic fundi were taken, and the grade of arteriosclerotic changes in the retinal arteries was evaluated according to Scheie's classification.
Results:
Individuals with more advanced grades of arteriosclerotic changes had higher serum hepatocyte growth factor values (grade 0, 0.056 +/- 0.004 ng/ml, n = 86; grade 1, 0.132 +/- 0.026 ng/ml, n = 17, P < 0.01, versus grade 0; grade 2-3, 0.271 +/- 0.023 ng/ml, n = 9, P < 0.01, versus grades 0 and 1). The serum hepatocyte growth factor concentrations were also correlated significantly to the serum uric acid concentrations (r = 0.230, P = 0.015) and erythrocyte counts (r = 0.299, P = 0.001), but not to the systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and other physical and humoral parameters.
Conclusions:
Serum hepatocyte growth factor levels are thought to indicate the presence or development of arteriosclerotic lesions and may be a useful biochemical parameter for estimating the development of systemic arteriosclerosis irrespective of blood pressure levels.