β-sheets in serum protein are independent risk factors for coronary lesions besides LDL-C in coronary heart disease patients

• Published in: Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine 2022-08, Vol.9, p.911358
• Main Authors: Li, Yu-Lin, Xie, Jia-Ying, Lu, Bin, Sun, Xiao-di, Chen, Fang-Fang, Tong, Zhou-Jie, Sai, Wen-Wen, Zhang, Wei, Wang, Zhi-Hao, Zhong, Ming
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular Medicine; coronary heart disease; LDL-C; misfolded proteins; β-sheet
• ISSN: 2297-055X; 2297-055X
• DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.911358

Coronary heart disease (CHD) patients with standard low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) remain at risk of cardiovascular events, making it critical to explore new targets to reduce the residual risk. The relationship between β-sheet conformation and CHD is gaining attention. This study was designed to compare the coronary lesions in CHD patients with varying LDL-C and evaluate whether serum β-sheets are associated with coronary damage. Two hundred and one patients diagnosed with stable CHD were recruited and divided into four groups according to LDL-C. Baseline information, coronary lesion-related indicators, and peripheral blood samples were collected. Serum β-sheet content was determined by thioflavin T fluorescence. The baseline information was comparable in CHD patients with different LDL-C. No difference was found in indicators relevant to coronary lesions among groups. The content of β-sheet was negatively correlated with LDL-C. Multiple linear regression revealed that serum β-sheet was positively correlated with coronary lesion when risk factors such as age, smoking, and LDL-C were controlled. This is the first study that reports the serum β-sheet levels of CHD patients being gradually increased with decreasing LDL-C when coronary lesions were comparable. Serum β-sheet might exacerbate the coronary lesions in CHD patients independent of known risk factors such as LDL-C.