Association of human cathelicidin (hCAP-18/LL-37) gene expression with cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Abstract Background and aims Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are components of the innate immune system. In addition, evidence suggests that these peptides are associated with various inflammatory diseases. We examined whether expression of the cathelicidin LL-37 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) is associated with cardiovascular risk factors. Methods and results A total of 90 men and 87 women selected from STANISLAS cohort were studied. Expression of LL-37 mRNA isolated from PBMCs of these subjects was quantified by quantitative RT-PCR. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical profiles were assessed for each individual. In women, LL-37 mRNA expression was significantly and positively correlated with body mass index (BMI) ( p ≤0.001); waist circumference (WC) ( p ≤0.01); systolic blood pressure (SBP) ( p ≤0.05) and triglycerides (TG) level ( p ≤0.05) and negatively with plasma levels of HDL-C ( p ≤0.05). In men however, LL-37 was positively associated with waist to hip ratio (WHR) ( p ≤0.05); SBP ( p ≤0.001); TG ( p ≤0.05); fasting glucose levels ( p ≤0.01); alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity ( p ≤0.01); neutrophils counts ( p ≤0.01) and negatively with lymphocyte counts ( p ≤0.001); serum HDL-C ( p ≤0.001) and apoA-I ( p ≤0.05) levels. After adjustment for WC and BMI, multiple regression analysis showed that LL-37 remained significantly associated with SBP; HDL-C; fasting glucose level; ALT activity; neutrophil and lymphocyte counts ( p ≤0.001 to p ≤0.05) in men. Conclusion Our results suggest that LL-37 gene expression may be closely associated with cardiovascular risk factors independently of BMI and WC. However, functional studies are required to confirm these data.