Could Biglycan be a biomarker of coronary artery disease? A pilot human study

Abstract

Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is utilized as an important tool for the global risk assessment of cardiovascular events in individuals with intermediate risk. Biglycan (BGN) is a small leucine-rich proteoglycan that induces the calcification of arterial smooth muscle cell. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between BGN serum concentration and CAC in human for the first time. Patients and Methods: Eighty-four patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) were included in the study. A questionnaire consisting of demographic data and traditional cardiovascular risk factors was completed for all patients. patients did not complete the questionnaire, it was completed by the pharmacy student. CAC score and BGN serum concentrations were determined using computed tomography angiography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method, respectively. Results: There was no significant correlation between BGN serum concentration and total CAC score and also CAC of different branches of coronary artery (P > 0.05). Conclusion: On the basis of our results, BGN serum concentration is not a suitable biomarker of CAD. Studies with a higher sample size are necessary for its confirmation.

Keywords

• Biglycan
• biomarker
• coronary artery calcification
• glycosaminoglycan
• proteoglycans
• tumor necrosis factor-β