Platelet-Activating Factor Acetylhydrolase Is Not Associated with Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Hypercholesterolemic Sicilian Individuals

• Published in: Clinical chemistry (Baltimore, Md.) Md.), 2004-11, Vol.50 (11), p.2077-2082
• Main Authors: Campo, Salvatore, Sardo, Maria A, Bitto, Alessandra, Bonaiuto, Antonio, Trimarchi, Giuseppe, Bonaiuto, Michele, Castaldo, Maria, Saitta, Carlo, Cristadoro, Simona, Saitta, Antonino
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase - blood; 1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase - genetics; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Arteriosclerosis - blood; Arteriosclerosis - pathology; Atherosclerosis; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Blood platelets; Blood pressure; Cardiovascular disease; Carotid arteries; Carotid Arteries - pathology; Cholesterol; Diabetes; Enzymes; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genotype; Genotypes; High density lipoprotein; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia - blood; Hypercholesterolemia - pathology; Hypertension; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Lipids; Lipoproteins, HDL - blood; Lipoproteins, LDL - blood; Low density lipoprotein; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Oxidation; Polymorphism, Genetic; Sicily; Tunica Intima - pathology; Tunica Media - pathology; Ultrasonic imaging
• ISSN: 0009-9147; 1530-8561
• DOI: 10.1373/clinchem.2004.036863

Atherosclerosis is a complex, chronic disease that usually arises from the converging action of several pathogenic processes, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and the accumulation of oxidized LDL. Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) is a LDL- and HDL-bound enzyme that hydrolyzes and inactivates PAF and prevents LDL-cholesterol oxidation, thus delaying the onset of atherosclerotic disease. We evaluated the relationship between variants of the PAF-AH gene polymorphisms Arg92His, Ile198Thr, and Ala379Val and the presence of carotid atherosclerosis in 190 hypercholesterolemic Sicilian individuals. Carotid artery intima-media wall thickness (IMT) was measured as an indicator of early atherosclerotic disease. The participants were classified according to having normal (< or =1 mm) or abnormal (> or =1 mm) IMT and were also investigated for physical characteristics and biochemical indices, including PAF-AH activity. PAF-AH activity and LDL concentrations were significantly correlated in hypercholesterolemic patients, but plasma PAF-AH activity and HDL were not significantly correlated in either IMT group. No significant differences were detected among the PAF-AH gene polymorphisms in both groups after correction for age, sex, body mass index, plasma glucose and lipid concentrations, PAF-AH activity, blood pressure, and smoking habits. The analysis of PAF-AH genotype distribution showed no significant differences in percentage of 92, 198, and 379 genotypes in both IMT groups. Our data provided no evidence that PAF-AH polymorphisms influence PAF-AH activity and atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic Sicilian patients.