Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Private bag X1290, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Medical Research Council Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, North-West University, Private bag X6001, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
Medical Research Council Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, North-West University, Private bag X6001, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Centre of Excellence for Nutrition (CEN), North-West University, Private bag X6001, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
Microvasc Res. 2021 Sep;137:104180. doi: 10.1016/j.mvr.2021.104180. Epub 2021 May 18.
Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), traditionally associated with fibrinolysis, is increasingly implicated in impaired vascular function. However, studies on its association with microvascular function are limited to the cutaneous and coronary microvascular beds in older and diseased individuals. To better understand its potential involvement in the early stages of disease development, we investigated the associations of retinal vasodilatory responses to flicker light with PAI-1 activity (PAI-1) in young and healthy individuals.
We included healthy Black and White women and men (n = 518; aged 20-30 years), and measured plasma PAI-1 and retinal vasodilatory responses to flicker light provocation. We also collected demographic and lifestyle data, measured blood pressure, anthropometry, blood lipids, inflammatory and other biomarkers.
In multivariate regression analyses, maximal retinal venular dilation associated independently and inversely with PAI-1 (adj. R = 0.11; β = -0.15; p = 0.001) in the total group. In exploratory subgroup analyses, this association remained in White women (adj. R = 0.07; β = -0.23; p = 0.005), and was more robust with younger age and lower blood pressure and in non-smokers, but also with greater central adiposity, higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and inflammation (all p < 0.05).
Our data suggest that in young individuals, PAI-1 may already be associated with subclinical microvascular dysfunction.
纤溶酶原激活物抑制剂-1（PAI-1）传统上与纤维蛋白溶解有关，但其与血管功能障碍的关系也越来越受到关注。然而，关于其与微血管功能的关系的研究仅限于老年人和患病个体的皮肤和冠状动脉微血管床。为了更好地理解其在疾病早期发展中的潜在作用，我们研究了年轻健康个体的视网膜血管对闪烁光的舒张反应与 PAI-1 活性（PAI-1）之间的关系。
我们纳入了健康的黑人和白人女性和男性（n=518；年龄 20-30 岁），并测量了血浆 PAI-1 和视网膜对闪烁光刺激的血管舒张反应。我们还收集了人口统计学和生活方式数据，测量了血压、人体测量学、血脂、炎症和其他生物标志物。
在多元回归分析中，最大视网膜静脉扩张与 PAI-1 独立且呈负相关（调整后的 R=0.11；β=-0.15；p=0.001）。在探索性亚组分析中，这种相关性在白人女性中仍然存在（调整后的 R=0.07；β=-0.23；p=0.005），并且在年龄较小、血压较低、不吸烟的人群中更为显著，而在中心性肥胖、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇和炎症水平较高的人群中也更为显著（均 p<0.05）。
我们的数据表明，在年轻个体中，PAI-1 可能已经与亚临床微血管功能障碍有关。
