Osteopontin and Osteoprotegerin as Potential Biomarkers in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm before and after Treatment

Abstract

Aim. Although osteopontin (OPN) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) have been associated with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), no association of these two biomarkers with AAA surgical or endovascular treatment has been reported. Material and Methods. Seventy-four AAA patients were prospectively selected for open or endovascular repair. All aneurysms were classified (Types A–E) according to aneurysmal extent in CT imaging (EUROSTAR criteria). All patients had preoperative serum OPN and OPG values measurements and 1 week after the procedure. Preoperative and postoperative values were compared with a control group of twenty patients (inguinal hernia repair). Results. Preoperative OPN values in patients with any type of aneurysm were higher than in the control group, while OPG values showed no difference. Postoperative OPN values in AAA patients were higher than in the control group. OPN values increased after open surgery and after EVAR. OPG values increased after open surgery but not after EVAR. There was no difference in OPN/OPG values between EVAR and open surgery postoperatively. Conclusions. OPN values are associated with aneurysm presence but not with aneurysm extent. OPG values are not associated either with aneurysm presence or with aneurysm extent. OPN values increase after AAA repair, independently of the type of repair.

Metformin Inhibits Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Formation through the Activation of the AMPK/mTOR Signaling Pathway

“…Specifically, mTOR levels were negatively correlated with α-SMA expression [7]. OPN, which is a biomarker of synthetic VSMCs, is expressed by many cell types in response to biological stressors and seems to function in the migration of macrophages and VSMCs, ultimately contributing to vascular remodeling and atherosclerosis [51]. VSMC phenotype switching can lead to morphological and functional changes in VSMCs and result in deterioration of the aortic wall, which partially underlies AAA pathogenesis.…”

Circulating biomarkers are not associated with endoleaks after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms

“…Two surgical investigations have reported significant postoperative increases in circulating OPG concentration for AAA patients undergoing aneurysm repair. 41,42 The final two markers assessed (CRP and HCY) are commonly measured as part of patient care, and the availability of preoperative and postoperative measurements for these markers provided the opportunity to assess their association with endoleak. CRP is an acute phase protein that is used to assess systemic inflammation and has been suggested to be associated with AAA presence in a number of studies.…”

Kallistatin limits abdominal aortic aneurysm by attenuating generation of reactive oxygen species and apoptosis

“…These findings are in line with a number of previous studies that suggested that KAL upregulation limits ECM remodelling 9 , 40 – 43 . Matrix regulating proteins such as MMPs, OPN, OPG and VEGF have been previously implicated in experimental and human AAA 44 – 47 . In the KS-Tg mice, but not mice receiving rhKAL, Mmp-9 , Mmp-2 and Opn expressions were downregulated.…”