Association of Circulating Heme Oxygenase-1, Lipid Profile and Coronary Disease Phenotype in Patients with Chronic Coronary Syndrome

• Main Authors: Chiara Caselli (Author), Raffaele De Caterina (Author), Rosetta Ragusa (Author), Riccardo Liga (Author), Alessia Gimelli (Author), Arthur J. H. A. Scholte (Author), Aldo Clerico (Author), Juhani Knuuti (Author), Danilo Neglia (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2021-12-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.3390/antiox10122002; 2076-3921
• Keywords: Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1); oxidative stress; coronary artery disease; Therapeutics. Pharmacology; RM1-950
• Source: Antioxidants, Vol 10, Iss 12, p 2002 (2021)

Background. The NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway has an emerging role in atherosclerosis. Activated by oxidative stress, it is deemed to exert athero-protective effects. We aimed at evaluating the relationships between plasma HO-1, clinical/molecular profiles and coronary disease patterns in patients with chronic coronary syndromes (CCS). Methods. HO-1 was measured in 526 patients (60 ± 9 years, 318 males) with CCS. Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) and stress imaging were used to assess the disease phenotype (coronary atherosclerosis and myocardial ischemia) in a subgroup of 347 patients. Results. In the overall population, HO-1 median value (25-75 percentile) was 5.195 (1.75-8.25) ng/mL. Patients with higher HO-1 were more frequently male, had a higher BMI and lower LVEF%, but otherwise similar risk factors than the other patients. Their bio-humoral profile was characterized by higher markers of endothelial/myocardial dysfunction, but lower levels of cholesterol lipoproteins. Coronary artery disease was characterized by more diffuse atherosclerosis, with mainly non-obstructive and calcified plaques, and a higher prevalence of functional ischemia. Conclusion: In patients with CCS, higher plasma HO-1 levels are associated with lower cholesterol and a more diffuse but mainly non-obstructive coronary atherosclerosis, confirming a potential role for the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway as a protective feedback.