Association of carotid artery atherosclerosis with circulating biomarkers of extracellular matrix remodeling: the Framingham Offspring Study - PubMed (original) (raw)

Association of carotid artery atherosclerosis with circulating biomarkers of extracellular matrix remodeling: the Framingham Offspring Study

Jose R Romero et al. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2008 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Objective: We sought to relate circulating biomarkers of extracellular matrix turnover to site-specific measures of carotid artery atherosclerosis on duplex ultrasound.

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) regulate extracellular matrix remodeling, a key feature of atherosclerosis, and their circulating concentrations can be assayed. MMP-9, TIMP-1, and protocollagen-III n-terminal propeptide (PIIINP) may relate differentially to the severity of atherosclerosis at different carotid artery sites. However, data examining this premise are sparse.

Methods: We related circulating MMP-9, TIMP-1, and/or PIIINP concentrations to carotid atherosclerosis on duplex ultrasound in 1006 Framingham offspring (mean age 58 years, 56% women) who attended a routine examination from 1995 to 1998. We used multivariable regression to relate MMP-9 (detectable v undetectable), TIMP-1, and PIIINP (age- and sex-specific quartiles) to internal carotid artery (IC) stenosis (>25%) and log-transformed common carotid artery and IC intima-media thickness (IMT).

Results: Detectable MMP-9 was associated with carotid stenosis (odds ratio [OR] 1.71, P = .032) but not with IMT. Higher TIMP-1 was associated with carotid stenosis (OR for Quartiles (Q)4 v Q1-3, 1.63, P = .022) and a higher IC IMT (beta 0.057 +/- 0.025, Q4 v Q1-3, P = .023). Higher PIIINP (Q4 v Q1-3) showed a borderline association with carotid stenosis (OR 1.45 for Q4 v Q1-3, P = .095) but not with IMT. TIMP-1 was not associated with common carotid artery IMT.

Conclusions: In our community-based sample of middle-aged to older adults, higher circulating biomarkers of matrix remodeling were associated with a greater prevalence of carotid stenosis and subclinical atherosclerosis in the IC. Our findings are consistent with regional differences in matrix remodeling in the carotid artery.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure:

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

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Association of carotid artery atherosclerosis with circulating biomarkers of extracellular matrix remodeling: the Framingham Offspring Study - PubMed (original) (raw)