The level of circulating pgc1a in cardiovascular disease

Abstract

The level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC1a) in human blood plasma was investigated. Samples of healthy individuals (n=34) and patients with cardiovascular diseases (n=110), including aortic aneurysm (n=69), aortic stenosis (n=25) and patients without aortic pathologies were analyzed. In patients the PGC1α concentration was higher than that in healthy persons, and tended to decrease with age. Elevated concentrations of lactic acid, total homocysteine and asymmetric dimethylarginine in the blood of patients suggested a parallel development of endothelial and secondary mitochondrial dysfunction. However, concentrations of lactic and pyruvic acids exceeding reference limit were associated with the decrease in the PGC1α level.