Is Pentraxin 3 Involved in Obesity-Induced Decrease in Arterial Distensibility?

Abstract

Aim: Obesity is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In addition, decreased central arterial distensibility is recognized as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Obese subjects exhibit low arterial distensibillity; however, the mechanism responsible for the decrease in arterial distensibility in obese subjects has not yet been elucidated. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), a recently identified member of the pentraxin family of proteins, is produced in areas of atherosclerosis. A recent study has revealed that the PTX3 level may indicate the vascular inflammatory status. The aim of this study was to investigate plasma PTX3 concentrations and arterial distensibility in obese subjects. ) participated in this study. We measured arterial compliance (using simultaneous B-mode ultrasound and arterial applanation tonometry of the common carotid artery); -stiffness index, an index of arterial compliance adjusted for distending pressure; and plasma PTX3 concentrations. Results: Arterial compliance was significantly lower and the -stiffness index was significantly higher in obese men than in non-obese men. Plasma PTX3 concentration was markedly higher in obese than non-obese men. Conclusions: Obese men have lower arterial distensibility and higher circulating PTX3 levels than non-obese men; therefore, higher PTX3 levels and decreased arterial distensibility coexist in obese men. The high PTX3 concentrations in obese men may be involved in the mechanism underlying the obesity-induced decrease in arterial distensibility. J Atheroscler Thromb, 2010; 17:278-284.

Plasma PTX3 protein levels inversely correlate with insulin secretion and obesity, whereas visceral adipose tissue PTX3 gene expression is increased in obesity

“…These results agree with the previous reports of inverse correlation between plasma PTX3 and fat mass (7), BMI (34,44), body weight, and waist circumference (34). They are in contrast to other studies (30,45) that report a positive link between PTX3, obesity, and some cardiovascular risk factors; i.e., higher circulating PTX3 was found in patients with metabolic syndrome in association with subclinical atherosclerosis (45), in obese men coexisting with decreased arterial distensibility (30), and in acute myocardial infarction patients in correlation with abdominal visceral obesity (40). There is no clear explanation for these discrepancies, and all of these results come from observational studies.…”

“…Likewise, negative correlations between concentrations of plasma PTX3 protein and triglycerides and BMI and lower PTX3 values in individuals with metabolic syndrome were described in a large population of subjects (34,44). However, some recent studies (30,45) disagree with these associations, reporting a positive link between PTX3, obesity, and some cardiovascular risk factors that associates the inflammatory function of this pentraxin with a worse cardiovascular profile. There is little information about PTX3 gene expression in AT, although PTX3 mRNA levels are higher in the white AT of genetically obese (ob/ob) and obese diabetic (db/db) mice than in controls (1).…”

Pentraxins in innate immunity: lessons from PTX3

“…Likewise, PTX3 has been suggested as a useful inflammatory biomarker for predicting cognitive impairment in elderly hypertensive patients (Yano et al 2010). Conversely, the assessment of PTX3 as a marker of metabolic syndrome characterized by increased cardiovascular risk has produced controversial data and further studies with larger number of patients are required before definitive conclusions can be made (Miyaki et al 2010;Ogawa et al 2010;Zanetti et al 2009). Increased levels of PTX3 have been observed in a restricted set of autoimmune disorders (e.g.…”

Gastric bypass–induced weight loss alters obesity-associated patterns of plasma pentraxin-3 and systemic inflammatory markers

“…Changes in circulating PTX3 in human obesity remain however controversial. Initial studies reported higher plasma PTX3 in obese than in normal weight individuals (23,24) , but more recent general population reports suggest a negative impact of adiposity on plasma PTX3 (25)(26)(27)(28)(29) . Consistent with the latter findings, one study reported that weight loss induced by lifestyle changes enhances circulating PTX3 (29) .…”