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Subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI) exhibit impaired left ventricular (LV) diastolic function, which has been reported to be attenuated by regular physical activity. This study investigated the relationship between circulating matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) and echocardiographic parameters in SCI subjects and the role of physical activity in this regard. Forty-two men with SCI [19 sedentary (S-SCI) and 23 physically-active (PA-SCI)] were evaluated by clinical, anthropometric, laboratory, and echocardiographic analysis. Plasmatic pro-MMP-2, MMP-2, MMP-8, pro-MMP-9, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and zymography. PA-SCI subjects presented lower pro-MMP-2 and pro-MMP-2/TIMP-2 levels and improved markers of LV diastolic function (lower E/Em and higher Em and E/A values) than S-SCI ones. Bivariate analysis showed that pro-MMP-2 correlated inversely with Em and directly with E/Em, while MMP-9 correlated directly with LV mass index and LV end-diastolic diameter in the whole sample. Following multiple regression analysis, pro-MMP-2, but not physical activity, remained associated with Em, while MMP-9 was associated with LV mass index in the whole sample. These findings suggest differing roles for MMPs in LV structure and function regulation and an interaction among pro-MMP-2, diastolic function and physical activity in SCI subjects., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Metabolic predictors and the atherogenicity of oxidized LDL (oxLDL) and the specific antibodies against oxLDL (oxLDL Ab) are unclear and controversial., Methods: In 107 adults without atherosclerotic manifestations, we measured oxLDL and oxLDL Ab, and also the activities of CETP, PLTP, lipases and the carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). Comparisons were performed for the studied parameters between the lowest and the highest tertile of oxLDL and oxLDL Ab, and the relationships between studied variables were evaluated., Results: Subjects with higher oxLDL Ab present reduced hepatic lipase activity and borderline increased cIMT. In the highest oxLDL tertile, besides the higher levels of total cholesterol, LDL-C and apoB100, we found reduced CETP activity and higher cIMT. A significant correlation between oxLDL Ab and cIMT, independent of oxLDL, and a borderline correlation between oxLDL and cIMT independent of oxLDL Ab were found. In the multivariate analysis, apoAI was a significant predictor of oxLDL Ab, in contrast to regulation of oxLDL by apoB100, PLTP and inverse of CETP., Conclusions: In adults without atherosclerotic disease, the metabolic regulation and carotid atherosclerosis of oxLDL Ab and oxLDL groups, characterized a dual trait in oxLDL Ab, as a contributor to carotid atherosclerosis, much less so than oxidized LDL, and with a modest atheroprotective role., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in cardiac remodeling and are encoded by genes showing genetic polymorphisms that have functional implications. We examined whether MMP-9 genetic polymorphisms are associated with hypertension and with left ventricular (LV) remodeling in hypertensive patients., Methods: We studied 173 hypertensive patients and 137 age, race and gender matched healthy controls. Heart echocardiography was performed in all patients and the following MMP-9 genetic polymorphisms were analyzed: C(-1562)T (rs3918242), -90 (CA)(14-24) (rs2234681) and Q279R (rs17576). Haplo.stats analysis was used to assess whether MMP-9 haplotypes are associated with hypertension. Linear regression analysis was performed to assess whether MMP-9 haplotypes affect LV mass index (LVMI) and other echocardiography parameters., Results: MMP-9 -90 (CA)(14-24) "HH" genotype (H allele defined by number of CA repeats ≥21) was associated with hypertension (P=0.0085; OR=2.321, 95% confidence interval=1.250 to 4.309). While one MMP-9 haplotype ("C, H, Q") protects against LVMI and end-diastolic diameter increases due to remodeling (P=0.0490 and P=0.0367), another MMP-9 haplotype apparently has detrimental effects over both parameters in hypertensive patients ("T, H, Q", P=0.0015 and P=0.0057, respectively)., Conclusion: Genetic polymorphisms in MMP-9 gene may modify the susceptibility of hypertensive patients to LV remodeling. Further studies are necessary to examine whether these polymorphisms affect clinical events in hypertensive patients., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: This study investigated the impact of a putative functional TLR4 polymorphism (Asp299Gly) on left ventricular (LV) structure in hypertensive subjects., Methods: A sample of 443 patients (266 women and 177 men) was evaluated by clinical history, physical examination, anthropometry, analysis of inflammatory and metabolic parameters, echocardiography and TLR4 Asp299Gly genotyping. In addition, the relationship between the polymorphism and in vitro lipopolysaccharide responsiveness of peripheral blood monocytic cells was also assessed., Results: Women carrying the 299Gly allele presented lower posterior wall thickness (p=0.01), interventricular septum thickness (p=0.04), LV mass (p=0.01) and LV mass index (p=0.03), as well as a reduced prevalence of LV hypertrophy (p=0.002), in comparison to women with the wild-type genotype. These results were confirmed by stepwise and logistic regression analyses adjusted for potential confounders. Conversely, the 299Gly allele did not influence LV structure in men. Furthermore, in vitro assays revealed that monocytes of either men or women heterozygous for the 299Gly allele presented a lower lipopolysaccharide-induced production of interleukin-6, compared to non-carriers., Conclusions: The functional TLR4 Asp299Gly polymorphism is associated with lower LV mass in hypertensive women. These findings suggest that interactions among gender, LV remodeling and TLR4 gene variants may occur in hypertensive subjects., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Lipoprotein lipase catalyzes the hydrolysis of the triglycerides contained in both very-low-density lipoproteins and chylomicrons for storage in the adipose tissue and muscle of fats of both hepatic and dietary origin. The S447X-Stop lipoprotein lipase is the most common polymorphism of the enzyme, affecting roughly 20% of the population and is accompanied by normal or diminished fasting triglycerides and perhaps lower incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD). Delay in the removal of chylomicron and remnant is now an established risk factor for CAD., Methods: Currently, the chylomicron metabolism has been evaluated in 12 normolipidemic subjects with the S447X-Stop and in 13 age- and sex-paired control subjects with no mutation. The doubly labeled chylomicron-like emulsion method was used to evaluate chylomicron metabolism. The emulsions labeled with cholesteryl-oleate (14C-CE) and tri[9,10-3H]oleate (3H-Tg) were injected intravenously and the decay curves of the labels were determined by blood sampling over 60 min followed by radioactive counting., Results: The fractional clearance rate (FCR, min(-1)) of the labels was not different in the S447X carriers compared with the noncarriers (FCR 3H-Tg 0.035 +/- 0.019 and 0.030 +/- 0.009; FCR 14C-CE 0.008 +/- 0.007 and 0.009 +/- 0.007, respectively)., Conclusions: The chylomicron intravascular lipolysis monitored by the 3H-Tg emulsion and the remnant removal monitored by the 14C-CE emulsion were not altered by the presence of this polymorphism of great populational impact.