Relationship between serum adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein and endothelial/hemostatic markers in dyslipidemic subjects.

OBJECTIVES: Some findings support the role of serum adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) as a key pro-inflammatory mediator that links obesity with cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of A-FABP with endothelial/hemostatic markers [von Willebrand factor (vWF), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), tissue-plasminogen activator (t-PA), soluble intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (s-ICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (s-VCAM-1)] in asymptomatic dyslipidemic subjects.

DESIGN: We examined 105 dyslipidemic patients (with apolipoprotein B concentration ≥1.2 g/l and/or triglyceride (TG) concentration ≥1.5 mmol/l) without clinical manifestation of atherosclerosis and 50 normolipidemic healthy subjects, who served as a control group. Except of endothelial/hemostatic markers, anthropometric and lipid parameters, markers of insulin resistance and inflammation were assessed.

RESULTS: In dyslipidemic patients, A-FABP positively correlated with age (p<0.05), TG (p<0.05), insulin (p<0.05), homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) index (p<0.05), body mass index (p<0.001), waist circumference (p<0.05), high sensitivity C reactive protein (p<0.01), and vWF (p<0.05) and negatively with male gender (p<0.05). There were no correlations between A-FABP and PAI-1, t-PA, s-VCAM-1 or s-ICAM-1. By using linear multivariate regression analysis the positive association between A-FABP and vWF was independent of age, gender, insulin resistance, and visceral obesity.

CONCLUSION: Study displayed an independent positive association of A-FABP with vWF in clinically asymptomatic dyslipidemic subjects. Contribution of A-FABP in the process of endothelial dysfunction could help to explain the role of obesity in cardiovascular damage.