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Lipoprotein(a) and vascular redox state in patients with advanced coronary atherosclerosis

Abstract:
Background: Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is associated with cardiovascular disease, but neither the causal nature nor the underlying mechanisms are fully documented. This study investigated whether Lp(a) triggers atherogenesis by dysregulating vascular redoxsensitive inflammatory state.

Methods: Plasma Lp(a) was measured in 1027 patients with advanced coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing cardiac surgery. These patients were genotyped and a modified genetic risk score (LPA GRS) determining Lp(a) levels was generated. RNAsequencing and vascular superoxide (O2 .-) measurements were performed in internal mammary arteries (IMA), and the contribution of NADPH oxidases and uncoupled endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) determined. The median follow-up was 5.07 years.

Results: Increased plasma Lp(a) (p=0.03) and LPA GRS (p=0.01), were associated with elevated arterial O2 .- in the overall patient population, an effect that was driven by non-diabetics. This effect was primarily due to eNOS uncoupling via reduced vascular tetrahydrobiopterin bioavailability. There was no significant impact of Lp(a) variability on vascular NADPH oxidase-derived O2 .- (p=0.13). RNA-sequencing of arterial tissue revealed dysregulation of nitrosative and inflammatory signaling in high Lp(a) patients, although there was no association with systemic biomarkers of inflammation (i.e. hsCRP) (p=0.82) or oxidative stress (i.e. malondialdehyde) (p=0.61). Finally, both LPA GRS (HR[95% CI]=3.615[1.044-12.515], p=0.043) and high plasma Lp(a) (HR[95% CI]=3.286 [1.003-10.767], p=0.049) were associated with elevated risk for cardiac mortality. This association was vascular O2 .--dependent, implying that redox-sensitive inflammatory signaling may be a link between Lp(a) and cardiovascular risk. All above associations were independent from plasma ApoB.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates for the first time that a genetically determined increase in plasma Lp(a) results in dysregulated vascular redox/nitrosative signaling in patients with atherosclerosis.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1161/atvbaha.125.322924

Authors

More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Radcliffe Department of Medicine
Sub department:
RDM-Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Radcliffe Department of Medicine
Sub department:
RDM-Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-7581-2108
More by this author
Division:
MSD
Department:
Radcliffe Department of Medicine
Sub department:
RDM-Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Radcliffe Department of Medicine
Sub department:
RDM-Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0003-4210-6260
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Radcliffe Department of Medicine
Sub department:
RDM-Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
Role:
Author


More from this funder
Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/02wdwnk04
Grant:
FS/16/15/32047
RG/F/21/110040
CH/F/21/90009


Publisher:
American Heart Association
Journal:
Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology More from this journal
Publication date:
2025-10-30
Acceptance date:
2025-10-16
DOI:
EISSN:
1524-4636
ISSN:
1079-5642


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
2300643
Local pid:
pubs:2300643
Deposit date:
2025-10-21
ARK identifier:

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