Antibodies to N-homocysteinylated albumin as a marker for early-onset coronary artery disease in men.

Abstract

N-homocysteinylated (Nepsilon-Hcy) proteins and corresponding antibodies have recently been discovered in humans and animals. Increased autoimmune response to Nepsilon-Hcy-proteins has been reported in stroke patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether antibodies against N-homocysteinylated albumin are associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). We studied 88 male patients aged 50 years or under with angiographically documented CAD and 100 age-matched apparently healthy men as controls. Serum levels of IgG antibodies against Nepsilon-Hcy-albumin were determined using an enzymelinked immunosorbent assay. Seropositivity to anti-Nepsilon-Hcy-albumin antibodies was 5-fold more frequent in CAD patients than in controls (52.3% vs 10.0%; p<0.0001). Plasma Hcy levels in CAD patients were also significantly higher in the former than in the latter group (medians, 13.0 microM vs 12.1 microM; p=0.026). Importantly, 41.2% of subjects with plasma total Hcy >14.5 mM were seropositive compared with 25.5% of normohomocysteinemic individuals (p=0.048). There was a weak correlation between anti-Nepsilon-Hcy-albumin antibodies and Hcy levels (r=0.16; p=0.03). By multivariate logistic regression analysis, seropositivity to anti-Nepsilon-Hcy-albumin antibodies was an independent predictor of early CAD (OR, 14.82; 95% CI, 4.47 to 49.19; p=0.00002). Interestingly, anti-Nepsilon-Hcy-albumin antibodies were associated with C-reactive protein levels (r=0.24; p=0.002). Seropositivity to anti-Nepsilon-Hcy-albumin antibodies showed no association with the MTHFR C677T polymorphism. Our results suggest that seropositivity to antibodies against Nepsilon-homocysteinylated albumin is associated with early-onset CAD. An autoimmune response to Nepsilon-Hcy-albumin may represent a novel mechanism involved in the early development of CAD.

• Authors: Anetta Undas, Milosz Jankowski, Magdalena Twardowska, Agnieszka Padjas, Hieronim Jakubowski, Andrzej Szczeklik
• Journal: Thrombosis and haemostasis (Thromb Haemost) Vol. 93 Issue 2 Pg. 346-50 (Feb 2005) ISSN: 0340-6245 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 15711753 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Autoantibodies
• Biomarkers
• Immunoglobulin G
• N-homocysteinylated albumin
• Serum Albumin
• Homocysteine

Topics

• Adult
• Autoantibodies (blood)
• Autoimmunity
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Case-Control Studies
• Coronary Artery Disease (diagnosis, etiology, immunology)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Homocysteine (analogs & derivatives, blood)
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin G (blood)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Regression Analysis
• Serum Albumin (immunology)