Serum level of pigment epithelium-derived factor is a marker of atherosclerosis in humans

ObjectivePigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) could play a protective role against atherosclerosis. However, there is no clinical study to examine the relationship between serum level of PEDF and atherosclerosis in humans.Methods/resultsThe study involved 317 consecutive outpatients in Kurume University Hospital (220 male and 97 female) with a mean age of 62.1 ± 9.1. We examined whether serum level of PEDF were independently associated with vascular inflammation evaluated by [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and intima-media thickness (IMT) in carotid artery in humans. Carotid [18F]-FDG uptake, an index of vascular inflammation within the atherosclerotic plaques, was measured as standardized uptake value (SUV). Mean serum PEDF level, carotid SUV and IMT values were 13.5 ± 1.1 μg/mL, 1.34 ± 0.19, and 0.71 ± 0.15 mm, respectively. In multiple stepwise regression analysis, estimated glomerular filtration rate (p < 0.001), males (p < 0.001), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (p < 0.05), heart rate (p < 0.05), triglycerides (p < 0.05), carotid IMT (p < 0.05), waist circumference (p < 0.05) and carotid SUV (p < 0.05) were independently correlated to PEDF level (R2 = 0.332).ConclusionThe present study reveals that serum level of PEDF is independently associated with vascular inflammation and IMT, thus suggesting that PEDF level is a novel biomarker that could reflect atherosclerosis in humans.