The relationship between serum hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha and coronary artery calcification in asymptomatic type 2 diabetic patients

Background: Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), a master regulator of oxygen homeostasis, is a heterodimer consisting of HIF-1alpha and HIF-1beta subunits, and is implicated in calcification of cartilage and vasculature. The goal of this study was to determine the relationship between serum HIF-1alpha with coronary artery calcification (CAC) in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: The subjects were 405 (262 males, 143 females, age 51.3 +/- 6.4 years) asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Serum HIF-1alpha and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured by ELISA. CAC scores were assessed by a 320-slice CT scanner. The subjects were divided into 4 quartiles depending on serum HIF-1alpha levels. Results: Average serum HIF-1alpha was 184.4 +/- 66.7 pg/ml. Among patients with higher CAC scores, HIF-1alpha levels were also significantly increased (p
Source: Cardiovascular Diabetology - Category: Cardiology Authors: Source Type: research