Association of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 and endothelial function in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Abstract

Mechanisms underlying the role of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A 2 (L p-PLA 2) in atherosclerotic development are not completely understood. We evaluated the relationship of Lp-PLA 2 with endothelial dysfunction, an early manifestation of atherosclerosis, in a cohort without known clinical cardiovascular disease. A total of 2809 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis underwent plasma L p-PLA 2 mass and activity measurement and brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation testing. In adjusted linear regression models, higher L p-PLA 2 mass and activity levels were not associated with lower endothelial function ( -0.04%, p = 0.51 and -0.09%, p = 0.10, respectively). Among individuals with subclinical atherosclerosis based on ankle-brachial index (ABI) or carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), L p-PLA 2 mass and activity were not associated with lower endothelial function ( -0.03%, p = 0.88 and -0.31%, p = 0.16 for ABI < 1.00; 0.01%, p = 0.94 and -0.15%, p = 0.20 for abnormal carotid IMT). In summary, L p-PLA 2 is not associated with endothelial dysfunction, suggesting its role in atherosclerosis development is primarily related to other factors. © 2011 The Author(s).