Division of Central Laboratory, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Tenerife, Spain.
Division of Rheumatology, Hospital Doctor Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
Arthritis Res Ther. 2023 Apr 17;25(1):64. doi: 10.1186/s13075-023-03046-2.
Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β1) is a multifunctional cytokine that has anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. TGF-β1 has been linked to cardiovascular disease in the general population. The immunosuppressive effect of TGF-β1 is believed to be dysregulated in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In the present work, we aimed to study the relationship of serum levels of TGF-β1 with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in patients with SLE.
The study included 284 patients with SLE. Serum levels of TGF-β1 and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis (by carotid ultrasonography) were evaluated. In addition, the complete lipid profile and insulin resistance were analyzed. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analysis was performed to establish the relationship of TGF-β1 with carotid subclinical atherosclerosis adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors that included lipid profile and insulin resistance.
Circulating TGF-β1 was positively and significantly associated with higher levels of LDL:HDL cholesterol ratio and atherogenic index. TGF-β1 was also associated with significantly lower levels of HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1. Remarkably, TGF-β1 was associated with the presence of carotid plaque not only after adjustment for demographics (age, sex, body mass index, diabetes, hypertension, and aspirin use) but also after adjustment for relationships of TGF-β1 with lipid profile molecules, insulin resistance, and SLEDAI disease score (odds ratio 1.14 [95% confidence interval 1.003-1.30], p = 0.045).
TGF-β1 serum levels are positively and independently associated with the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis disease in patients with SLE.
转化生长因子-β（TGF-β1）是一种多功能细胞因子，具有抗炎和免疫抑制作用。TGF-β1 与普通人群的心血管疾病有关。据信，系统性红斑狼疮（SLE）患者的 TGF-β1 免疫抑制作用失调。在本工作中，我们旨在研究血清 TGF-β1 水平与 SLE 患者亚临床颈动脉粥样硬化的关系。
本研究纳入 284 例 SLE 患者。评估了血清 TGF-β1 水平和亚临床颈动脉粥样硬化（通过颈动脉超声检查）。此外，还分析了完整的血脂谱和胰岛素抵抗。采用多元线性和逻辑回归分析，在调整包括血脂谱和胰岛素抵抗在内的传统心血管危险因素后，建立 TGF-β1 与颈动脉亚临床动脉粥样硬化的关系。
循环 TGF-β1 与 LDL:HDL 胆固醇比值和致动脉粥样硬化指数的升高呈正相关且显著相关。TGF-β1 还与 HDL 胆固醇和载脂蛋白 A1 的水平显著降低相关。值得注意的是，TGF-β1 与颈动脉斑块的存在相关，不仅在调整人口统计学因素（年龄、性别、体重指数、糖尿病、高血压和阿司匹林使用）后如此，而且在调整 TGF-β1 与血脂谱分子、胰岛素抵抗和 SLEDAI 疾病评分的关系后也是如此（比值比 1.14 [95%置信区间 1.003-1.30]，p=0.045）。
TGF-β1 血清水平与 SLE 患者亚临床动脉粥样硬化疾病的存在呈正相关且独立相关。
