Relationship of sortilin and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 in blood serum with the severity of carotid and coronary atherosclerosis in hypertensive patients

Abstract

Sortilin is an important molecular protein involved in lipid metabolism, atherosclerosis,  and aortic valve calcification. Sortilin presumably regulates the PCSK9 signaling pathways.Aim. To study correlations of sortilin and PCSK9 with atherosclerosis  development in hypertensive  patients.Material and methods. The study included 161 patients aged 30 to 65 years. We performed collection of complaints and anamnesis, physical examination, blood biochemical  test with the determination of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,  triglycerides, blood glucose,  serum creatinine with estimation of glomerular  filtration rate. Serum PCSK9,  sortilin and interleukins 8, 10 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The following investigations were also performed:  electrocardiography,  echocardiography,  extracranial artery ultrasound, coronary angiography.Results. Sortilin levels (b=2,37; odds ratio (OR),  10,74; 95% CI, 1,05-109,47, p=0,045), IL-8 (b=-2,42; OR, 9,74; 95% CI, 0,01-0,81, p=0,032), age (b=0,21; OR, 1,24; 95% CI, 1,12-1,37, p<0,001)  were identified  as independent predictors of coronary atherosclerosis  with a sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of 70%. PCSK9 (b=0,005; OR, 1,00; 95% CI, 1,00-1,01, p=0,038) and IL-8 (b= -0,33; OR, 0,72; 95% CI, 0,55-0,94, p=0,014) were identified as independent predictors of carotid atherosclerosis  with a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 71%.Conclusion. In addition  to non-invasive imaging, the determination of atherosclerosis biomarkers can make a significant contribution to the diagnosis and prediction of carotid and coronary atherosclerosis  progression.  It is noteworthy that not only PCSK9, but also sortilin can be a potential therapeutic target. Further large-scale studies are needed.