Circulating interleukins and matrix metalloproteinases were significantly associated with arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients, with MMP-12 showing the strongest correlation (r~0.23, p<0.0001).
Cross-Sectional (n=817)
Are circulating inflammatory and matrix remodeling proteomic signatures associated with arterial stiffness in patients with hypertension?
Aggregated inflammatory and matrix remodeling proteomic profiles are significantly associated with arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients, suggesting a multifactorial biological basis for vascular stiffening.
Effect estimate: r ~ 0.23
p-value: p=<0.0001
Objective: Arterial stiffness, assessed by carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), is a key determinant of cardiovascular risk in arterial hypertension. Low-grade inflammation and extracellular matrix remodeling are recognized contributors to vascular stiffening; however, their combined proteomic profiles in hypertensive populations remain incompletely defined. To evaluate the associations between circulating interleukins, matrix metalloproteinases, and arterial stiffness in patients with hypertension using high-throughput proteomic profiling. Design and method: We studied 817 patients with diagnosed arterial hypertension. Carotid–femoral PWV was measured using a validated non-invasive method in accordance with current European guidelines. Circulating proteins were quantified using the OLINK® proximity extension assay (PEA) technology. Correlations between individual biomarkers and PWV were assessed. To capture cumulative biological effects, composite indices were constructed based on standardized biomarker concentrations: an IL-score (IL-6, IL-16, IL-17D, IL-27) reflecting inflammatory activity, and an MMP-score (MMP-7, MMP-12) reflecting extracellular matrix remodeling. Results: Several interleukins demonstrated significant positive associations with PWV, including IL-17D (r∼ 0.18, p < 0.0001), IL-6 (r ∼ 0.13, p < 0.01), IL-16 (r ∼ 0.11, p < 0.01), and IL-27 (r∼ 0.10, p < 0.01). While individual correlations were modest, the composite IL-score showed a stronger positive association with PWV, indicating that aggregated inflammatory burden is more closely related to arterial stiffness than single cytokines. Markers of matrix remodeling were strongly associated with PWV. MMP-7 (r ∼0.17, p < 0.0001) and MMP-12 (r∼ 0.23, p < 0.0001) were among the most robust correlates. The derived MMP-score exhibited a pronounced positive relationship with PWV, consistent with enhanced elastin and collagen degradation in stiffer arteries. Conclusions: In a large hypertensive cohort, arterial stiffness was associated with distinct proteomic signatures of inflammation and extracellular matrix remodeling. Composite interleukin- and metalloproteinase-based scores demonstrated stronger associations with PWV than individual biomarkers, supporting a multifactorial biological basis of vascular stiffening in hypertension. Integrated proteomic indices may improve mechanistic understanding and risk stratification in hypertensive patients
Dzitkowska-Zabielska et al. (Fri,) conducted a cross-sectional in arterial hypertension (n=817). Circulating interleukins and matrix metalloproteinases was evaluated on Arterial stiffness assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) (r ~ 0.23, p=<0.0001). Circulating interleukins and matrix metalloproteinases were significantly associated with arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients, with MMP-12 showing the strongest correlation (r~0.23, p<0.0001).