ANATOLIAN JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY

Objective: Coronary artery disease is characterized by atherosclerosis in the vessel wall. Recently, it has been thought that increasing LDL-binding capacity of subendothelial proteoglycan fragments that are formed by protease activity can be responsible for the initiation of atherosclerosis. ADAMTS4 is a member of the versican-degrading proteinases. In vitro studies demonstrated that TGF beta inhibits the expression of ADAMTS4 in macrophages. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role and association between TGF beta 1 and ADAMTS4 in coronary artery disease. Methods: A total of 84 cases with atheroma plaque and 72 controls without plaque were analyzed. The severity of disease was determined by Gensini score. TGF beta 1 gene polymorphisms were genotyped by the PCR-RFLP method. TGF beta 1 and ADAMTS4 serum levels were measured by ELISA method. Statistical analyses of genotypes and their relationship with serum levels were performed by chi-square, student t test and ANOVA. Results: ADAMTS4 levels were higher in cases compared with controls (p < 0.05). In the patient group, ADAMTS4 levels were higher than in controls and correlated with TGF beta 1 serum levels (r = 0.29; p < 0.05) and severity of disease (r = 0.20; p < 0.05). The TGF beta 1 gene CCA haplotype was associated with 3.3-fold increase in coronary artery disease (OR = 3.26 95% CI 1.22-8.68; p < 0.05). Unexpectedly, ADAMTS4 serum levels were also higher in diabetic cases (p = 0.05). Conclusion: This study has demonstrated that ADAMTS4 may be responsible for the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. This is the first report about the association between ADAMTS4 and TGF beta 1 serum levels in the progression of atherosclerosis in CAD. Furthermore, it is seen that TGF beta 1 haplotype can cause a genetic susceptibility to CAD in the Turkish population. To our knowledge, this is also the first report suggesting higher serum ADAMTS4 levels in diabetic patients

Maternal serum ADAMTS-9 levels in gestational diabetes: a pilot study

Objective: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is characterized with insulin resistance which is diagnosed during pregnancy. Although pregnancy is a diabetogenic state, not all women develop GDM. Genetic factors together with enviromental factors cause the maladaptation of maternal pancreas to this diabetogenic state and GDM develops. ADAMTS-9 is a recently recognized molecule whose genetic variants have risk of GDM. Decreased levels have already been shown in fetal membranes. Maternal serum levels of this protein have not been studied yet. We hypothesized that the alteration of ADAMTS-9 expression should cause changes in maternal serum levels which further could help to identify the disease and develop new treatment strategies. Materials and methods: This prospective case–control study is consisted of 27 pregnancies with GDM and 30 healthy singleton pregnancies matched for matenal age, gestational week, and maternal weight. GDM diagnosis was made with 2-h 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. ADAMTS-9 levels were compared between groups. Results: ADAMTS levels were 3.62 ± 0.33 ng/dL (range: 3.04–4.23) in GDM group and 4.65 ± 1.70 ng/dL (range: 3.07–8.21) in control group (p < 0.001). ADAMTS levels were not affected by maternal age, gestational age, and maternal weight. Conclusion: ADAMTS-9 levels were significantly lower in GDM pregnancies. This may help to understand the mechanism of GDM pathogenesis. In future, target treatments with ADAMTS proteins may help to improve the severity of diabetes pathogenesis. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group