Increased Plasma Urotensin-II and Carotid Atherosclerosis are Associated with Vascular Dementia

Yoshiyuki Ban; Takuya Watanabe; Toshiaki Suguro; Taka-aki Matsuyama; Yoshitaka Iso; Tetsuo Sakai; Ryuji Sato; Tsunenori Idei; Yasuko Nakano; Hidekazu Ota; Akira Miyazaki; Nobumasa Kato; Tsutomu Hirano; Yoshio Ban; Youichi Kobayashi

doi:10.5551/jat.E608

Original Articles

Increased Plasma Urotensin-II and Carotid Atherosclerosis are Associated with Vascular Dementia

Yoshiyuki Ban, Takuya Watanabe, Toshiaki Suguro, Taka-aki Matsuyama, Yoshitaka Iso, Tetsuo Sakai, Ryuji Sato, Tsunenori Idei, Yasuko Nakano, Hidekazu Ota, Akira Miyazaki, Nobumasa Kato, Tsutomu Hirano, Yoshio Ban, Youichi Kobayashi

Author information

Yoshiyuki Ban
Division of Diabetes, Metabolism, and Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine
Takuya Watanabe
Department of Biochemistry, Showa University School of Medicine
Toshiaki Suguro
Division of Diabetes, Metabolism, and Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine
Taka-aki Matsuyama
Department of Pathology, Showa University School of Medicine
Yoshitaka Iso
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine
Tetsuo Sakai
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine
Ryuji Sato
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine
Tsunenori Idei
Department of Psychiatry, Showa University School of Medicine
Yasuko Nakano
Department of Pharmacogenomics, Showa University School of Pharmacy
Hidekazu Ota
Department of Pathology, Showa University School of Medicine
Akira Miyazaki
Department of Biochemistry, Showa University School of Medicine
Nobumasa Kato
Department of Psychiatry, Showa University School of Medicine
Tsutomu Hirano
Division of Diabetes, Metabolism, and Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine
Yoshio Ban
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine
Youichi Kobayashi
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine

Keywords: Human urotensin-II, Atherosclerotic biomarkers, Carotid atherosclerosis, Vascular dementia

JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2009 Volume 16 Issue 3 Pages 179-187

DOI https://doi.org/10.5551/jat.E608

Details

Abstract

Aim: Human urotensin-II (UII) is a cyclic neuropeptide with potent vasoconstrictive activity in the vasculature. The expression of UII and its receptor (UT) mRNA is detected at high levels in the brain. We evaluated the relationship between plasma UII levels and vascular dementia (VaD) caused by stroke or atherosclerotic small vessel disease.
Methods: Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), plaques, plasma levels of immunoreactive UII (IR-UII), and atherosclerotic biomarkers were determined in 42 patients with VaD, 197 with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and 47 non-demented elderly controls.
Results: Age, gender, body mass index, systolic blood pressure (SBP), fasting plasma glucose, insulin, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, leptin, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels were not significantly different among these groups. IR-UII, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, lipoprotein(a), lipid peroxides, interleukin-6, and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels, and maximum IMT were significantly higher in VaD than in AD patients or controls. IR-UII level showed a significantly positive correlation with SBP or maximum IMT. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a significantly independent association between IR-UII levels or increased maximum IMT (≥1.1 mm) and VaD as compared with SBP, LDL cholesterol, and interleukin-6 levels.
Conclusion: Increased plasma IR-UII levels and carotid atherosclerosis may be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of VaD.

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