Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A in atherosclerosis: Molecular marker, mechanistic insight, and therapeutic target

Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), a member of the metzincin metalloproteinase superfamily, can enhance local insulin-like growth factor (IGF) bioavailability through proteolytic cleavage of three IGF binding proteins. In patients with coronary atherosclerosis disease (CAD), elevated PAPP-A levels are significantly associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events. Accumulating evidence indicates that this protease exerts a proatherogenic effect by altering a variety of pathological processes involved in atherosclerosis, including lipid accumulation, vascular inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration, plaque stability, and thrombus formation.
Source: Atherosclerosis - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Review article Source Type: research