Reduction of plasma angiopoietin-like 2 after cardiac surgery is related to tissue inflammation and senescence status of patients.

OBJECTIVES

A strong relationship between high circulating angiopoietin-like 2 (ANGPTL2) levels, a proinflammatory adipokine, and cardiovascular diseases has been reported. Our objective was to determine whether plasma ANGPTL2 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels change postoperatively in patients who underwent heart valve surgery and/or coronary artery bypass grafting. We hypothesized that a corrective cardiac surgery would decrease ANGPTL2 levels.

METHODS

In 47 prospectively recruited patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 16), valve replacement (n = 16), or both (n = 15), we measured plasma ANGPTL2 and hs-CRP levels preoperatively, at 24 hours, at 3 to 5 days (hospital discharge), and at 30 to 90 days (follow-up) after surgery. Mediastinal adipose tissue and distal fragments of the left internal mammary artery (IMA) were harvested during surgery and mRNA expression of inflammatory and senescence markers was assessed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

ANGPTL2 and hs-CRP levels were elevated 24 hours after surgery and then returned to baseline levels. We noted, however, a dichotomy among patients: compared with baseline, plasma ANGPTL2 levels either significantly decreased (n = 21/47) or increased (n = 26/47) after surgery. In contrast, hs-CRP levels were identical between groups (P = .997). Patients in the increased group were older (P = .002) with a higher systolic blood pressure (P = .038) at baseline. Moreover, changes in ANGPTL2 levels (ΔANGPTL2 = final minus initial levels) positively correlated with mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 8 in mediastinal adipose tissue and IMA (P < .05) and with the senescence-associated marker cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1 in IMA (P = .009).

CONCLUSIONS

In younger patients with lower levels of tissue inflammation and arterial senescence load, ANGPTL2, but not hs-CRP levels decreased after cardiac surgery, suggesting that circulating ANGPTL2 reflects tissue inflammation and senescence.