AI Article Synopsis

  • Apolipoprotein M (apoM) is a protein found in HDL particles that potentially serves to reduce cardiovascular risk and maintain blood vessel integrity, especially in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, who are at a higher risk for cardiovascular issues.
  • A study measured apoM levels in 84 SLE patients and 79 healthy controls, finding that SLE patients had significantly lower apoM levels, which were inversely related to SLE disease activity (SLEDAI).
  • The results suggest that lower apoM levels in SLE patients, particularly in younger individuals, may reflect increased disease activity and endothelial dysfunction, indicating a potential biomarker for monitoring these conditions.

Article Abstract

Background: Apolipoprotein M (apoM) is a 25-kDa apolipoprotein present in 5% of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles. It is suggested to be anti-atherogenic and to play a key role in sustaining endothelial barrier integrity. SLE patients have increased cardiovascular disease risk, and we aimed to investigate if apoM levels reflect endothelial function in SLE. Since apoM plasma levels decrease during inflammatory conditions, our aim was also to determine the impact of SLE disease activity on apoM plasma levels.

Methods: Plasma concentrations of apoM were measured by ELISA in two patient groups with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and in 79 healthy control individuals. In patient group I (n = 84), evaluation time points were selected with the objective to include a wide range of clinical and laboratory variables reflecting disease activity which was measured as SLEDAI. In patient group II consisting of 140 consecutive patients, endothelial function was measured by a finger plethysmograph. A low Reactive Hyperemia Index (RHI) value indicates endothelial dysfunction.

Results: SLE patients had decreased levels of apoM compared to healthy controls (p < 0.01), with apoM levels correlating inversely with SLEDAI (r = - 0.31, p < 0.01) as well as with levels of CRP (r = - 0.26, p = 0.02) and positively with levels of C3 (r = 0.29, p < 0.01). ApoM levels were particularly low in patients with active disease from the kidney and skin and in patients with leukopenia or positive anti-dsDNA antibody test (p < 0.05). ApoM levels correlated with RHI values in young SLE patients (r = 0.32, p = 0.01), consistent with the important role of apoM in regulating endothelial integrity.

Conclusions: ApoM levels may be regulated by SLE-related inflammatory processes and could be a marker of disease activity and endothelial dysfunction, in particular in young SLE patients. Further studies are needed to investigate the predictive value of apoM in the development of a cardiovascular disease.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6498515PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13075-019-1890-2DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

disease activity
12
plasma concentrations
8
systemic lupus
8
lupus erythematosus
8
sle patients
8
endothelial function
8
apom plasma
8
patient group
8
apom
6
endothelial
5

Similar Publications

Background: Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) has shown promising activity in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer (BC) and central nervous system (CNS) involvement. In this updated meta-analysis, we explore the effectiveness of T-DXd in a large subset of patients with HER2-positive BC and CNS disease.

Methods: A systematic search was made on September 16th, 2024, for studies investigating T-DXd in the scenario of HER2-positive BC and brain metastases (BMs) and/or leptomeningeal disease (LMD).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Emergency managers' challenges with wildfires and related cascading hazards in California.

J Environ Manage

January 2025

Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA; Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA; Department of Health, Society, and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA; Department of Population Health and Disease Prevention, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.

This study investigates the complexities faced by emergency managers in wildfire-prone areas to uncover pressing issues and potential solutions. Four themes are discerned through three focus group discussions with emergency managers from nine counties across California. First, there is unequal access to resources for both risk assessment and response, with counties that have fewer resources facing significant challenges in effectively managing wildfire risks.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The P2X4 receptor is implicated in various pathological conditions, including neuropathic pain and cancer. This study reports the development of 1,4-naphthodiazepinedione-based P2X4 receptor antagonists aimed at both therapeutic applications and potential use as PET tracers for imaging P2X4 receptor expression in cancer. Structure-activity relationship studies aided by docking studies and molecular dynamics simulations led to a series of compounds with potent P2X4 receptor antagonism, promising inhibition of interleukin-1β release in THP-1 cells and suitability for radiolabeling with fluorine-18.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Supervised Exercise for Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Cost-Utility Analysis Alongside the PREFERABLE-EFFECT Randomized Controlled Trial.

J Clin Oncol

January 2025

Department of Epidemiology and Health Economics, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Purpose: To evaluate the cost utility of a 9-month supervised exercise program for patients with metastatic breast cancer (mBC), compared with control (usual care, supplemented with general activity advice and an activity tracker). Evidence on the cost-effectiveness of exercise for patients with mBC is essential for implementation in clinical practice and is currently lacking.

Methods: A cost-utility analysis was performed alongside the multinational PREFERABLE-EFFECT randomized controlled trial, conducted in 8 centers across Europe and Australia.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Neurons as Immunomodulators: From Rapid Neural Activity to Prolonged Regulation of Cytokines and Microglia.

Annu Rev Biomed Eng

January 2025

2Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; email:

Regulation of the brain's neuroimmune system is central to development, normal function, and disease. Neuronal communication to microglia, the primary immune cells of the brain, is well known to involve purinergic signaling mediated via ATP secretion and the cytokine fractalkine. Recent evidence shows that neurons release multiple cytokines beyond fractalkine, yet these are less studied and poorly understood.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!