High Plasma Levels of Heparin-Binding Epidermal Growth Factor Are Associated With a More Stable Plaque Phenotype and Reduced Incidence of Coronary Events.

Summary, in English

Rupture of atherosclerotic plaques is the major cause of acute coronary events (CEs). Plaque destabilization is the consequence of an imbalance between inflammatory-driven degradation of fibrous tissue and smooth muscle cell-dependent tissue repair. Proinflammatory factors have been documented extensively as biomarkers of cardiovascular risk but factors that contribute to stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques have received less attention. The present study aimed to investigate whether plasma levels of the smooth muscle cell growth factor epidermal growth factor (EGF), heparin-binding-EGF (HB-EGF), and platelet-derived growth factor correlate with plaque phenotype and incidence of CEs.

• Author: Sara Rattik; Maria Wigren; Harry Björkbacka; Gunilla Nordin Fredrikson; Bo Hedblad; Agneta Siegbahn; Eva Bengtsson; Alexandru Schiopu; Andreas Edsfeldt; Pontus Dunér; Helena Grufman; Isabel Goncalves; Jan Nilsson
• Department/s: EXODIAB: Excellence of Diabetes Research in Sweden; EpiHealth: Epidemiology for Health; Cardiovascular Research - Immunity and Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular Research - Epidemiology; Cardiovascular Research - Translational Studies
• Publishing year: 2015
• Language: English
• Pages: 222-228
• Publication/Series: Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology
• Volume: 35
• Issue: 1
• Links: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25359857?dopt=Abstract; http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.114.304369
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• Topic: Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
• Status: Published
• Research group: Cardiovascular Research - Immunity and Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular Research - Epidemiology; Cardiovascular Research - Translational Studies
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1524-4636