The relationship of various factors in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis

Abstract

In this study we investigated the levels of lipid parameters, fibronectin, tissue-type plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor (t-PA-PAI-1) complex and sialidase in patients with coronary heart disease and a control group. Total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL). and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol and lipoprotein Lp(a), levels in patients with coronary heart disease were found to be significantly higher than in the control group (p <.001). High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels in patient group were significantly lower than control group (p <.001). Plasma fibronectin and t-PA-PAI-1 complex levels in patients with coronary heart disease were found to be significantly higher than control group (p <.05 and p <.001, respectively). In addition, we found that serum sialidase levels in patients with coronary heart disease were significantly higher than in the control group (p <.001). The electrophoretic mobility of lipoproteins from patients with coronary heart disease was found to be greater than those from the control group. As a result Lp(a) may play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis by causing foam cell formation because of interacting with LDL or fibronectin and by interfering with the fibrinolytic system because of binding to plasminogen receptors. In addition, modifications of Lp(a) (including desialylation) may effect these events.