Plasma Levels of Acylation-Stimulating Protein Are Strongly Predicted by Waist/Hip Ratio and Correlate with Decreased LDL Size in Men

Abstract

The association of abdominal obesity with cardiovascular risk is often linked to altered secretion of adipose-derived factors and an abnormal lipid profile including formation of atherogenic small dense low density lipoprotein particles (sdLDL). Acylation-stimulating protein (ASP) is an adipose-derived hormone that exhibits potent lipogenic effects. Plasma ASP levels increase in obesity; however, the association of ASP levels with body fat distribution is not yet established, and no study to date has investigated the association of ASP with LDL size. In this study, we examined the association of ASP levels with abdominal obesity measures and the lipid profile including LDL size in 83 men with a wide range of abdominal girths. Regression analysis showed that waist/hip ratio was the main predictor of ASP levels (β = 0.52, P < 0.0001), significantly followed by decreased LDL size. BMI and TG levels, although positively correlated with ASP levels, were excluded as significant predictors in regression analysis. No correlation was found with LDL-C or apoB levels. ASP levels were 62.5% higher in abdominally obese compared to nonobese men. Waist/hip ratio presenting as the main predictor of ASP levels, suggests increased ASP production by abdominal fat which, as proposed previously, may result from resistance to ASP function causing delayed TG clearance and subsequent formation of atherogenic sdLDL.

Plasma Gamma-Glutamyltransferase Is Strongly Determined by Acylation Stimulating Protein Levels Independent of Insulin Resistance in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

“…Contrary to GGT, bilirubin was found to be a powerful antioxidant in vitro and in vivo [57]. In the controls, a positive correlation of plasma ASP with TG levels was found as previously reported [20, 58, 59] although an association with liver enzymes was not detected. …”

“…Nevertheless, the findings may also reflect increased ASP levels as a result of tissue resistance and together with insulin resistance may exacerbate the dyslipidemic state. The concept of ASP resistance was proposed in several previous studies [16, 58, 59]. In summary, the findings suggest that ASP may play a unique role in the progression of adverse cardiovascular events, independent of insulin.…”

Acylation-stimulating protein is a surrogate biomarker for acute myocardial infarction: Role of statins

“…Moreover, most of the recruited patients with MI in the present study were associated with hypertension, DM, high BMI, and dyslipidemia which may explain the elevated ASP levels in the current study that supported by Saleh et al' study that revealed an associations with high ASP levels and obesity, LDL, TG level, and waist/hip ratio which is the main predictor of ASP level. [18] Indeed, elevated ASP levels in acute MI strongly predicted by obesity and dyslipidemia due to overproduction of ASP as consequence of ASP resistance, since ASP resistance causing metabolic alterations and lipid changes which contributed to the formation of atherogenic LDL that encourage AI and incidence of acute MI, [19] this may explain the elevated CRR and AI in association with high ASP levels in patients with acute MI of the present study. In addition, ethnic difference in ASP levels showed by Scantlebury-Manning et al study that pointed out to the higher levels of ASP in Caucasian due to higher TG fasting levels and ASP resistance compared to the other ethnic population that associated with low fasting TG level and higher ASP sensitivity, [20] these findings are in agreement with finding of the present study since; all of enrolled patients were Caucasian that associated with high ASP levels.…”

Low acylation stimulating protein levels are associated with cardiometabolic disorders–secondary to autoimmune activation?

“…Plasma ASP levels were correlated with decreased LDL size in Omani men determined by gradient gel electrophoresis ( 28 ). In line with this, age-adjusted ASP levels were positively associated in men with Lp(a) levels, mediated by increments in SHBG.…”