Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) as biomarkers of subclinical atherosclerosis in women

Background: Atherosclerosis is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Proinflammatory biochemical factors can influence vascular health; monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is elevated in patients with CVD while fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) acts directly on cardiac tissue to reduce infarction damage. However, the relationship between plasma concentrations of MCP-1, FGF-21 and subclinical CVD indices remains equivocal.

Aim: To determine the association between MCP-1, FGF-21 and subclinical atherosclerosis [i.e., carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT)] in women without clinical evidence of CVD.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of 140 women without history of CVD was performed. Anthropometrics were collected, serum concentrations of MCP-1 and FGF-21 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and cIMT was quantified (B-mode ultrasonography). The correlations between MCP-1, FGF-21 and the presence of clinical and laboratory of subclinical atherosclerosis (i.e., cIMT ≥0.70 mm), comparison intergroup and odd ratio with multiple logistic regression were analyzed.

Results: MCP-1, but not FGF-21 correlated with some obesity indicators. In median comparison among groups, subclinical atherosclerosis showed higher serum concentrations of MCP-1and lower serum concentrations of FGF-21. In postmenopausal women, there were significant differences MCP-1 (p = 0.001), and FGF-21 (p = 0.010). Multiple logistic regression analysis in postmenopausal women with subclinical atherosclerosis, between MCP-1 (p = 0.001) and FGF-21 (p = 0.037) showed association with cIMT, along with age.

Conclusions: MCP-1 and FGF-21 levels are associated with subclinical atherosclerosis disease severity (i.e., cIMT) in postmenopausal women without CVD. Further efforts focused on characterizing the relationship between novel blood-borne markers of early CVD pathology are warranted and should be pursued.