Objective: Recent evidence suggests that high tissue matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and low adiponectin may serve as biomarkers of atherosclerosis. Results on the associations of circulating MMP-1 and adiponectin concentrations are scarce. We hypothesized that patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) have elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), MMP-1 but low adiponectin levels, and concomitant measurements of these biomarkers could improve predictive strength for advanced CAD.
Research design and methods: We analyzed concentrations of MMP-1, hs-CRP and adiponectin in 217 subjects with angiographically documented multivessel CAD (two-, or three-vessel disease by luminal stenosis >or=50%) and 81 controls. MMP-1 and hs-CRP were notably higher in patients with CAD; while adiponectin was not significantly different between two groups. Levels of hs-CRP positively correlated with body mass index and left ventricular dysfunction (R(2)=0.16, P<0.0001); while adiponectin was significantly associated with age, gender, and levels of cholesterol and triglyceride (R(2)=0.09, P<0.0001). On the contrary, MMP-1 was not associated with any clinical cardiovascular risk factors, and still an independent predictor (OR=1.49, P<0.0001) of multivessel CAD after the adjustment of clinical risk factors and hs-CRP.
Conclusion: Elevated MMP-1 and hs-CRP, but not low adiponectin concentrations, could predict the presence of advanced coronary atherosclerosis. In addition, MMP-1 may serve as a more specific marker for significant CAD independent of hs-CRP.