Abstract
Background/Objective. It is known that menopause or lack of endogenous estrogen is a risk factor for endothelial dysfunction and CAD. Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) is involved inmultiple phases of vascular dysfunction.The purpose of the current study was to determine the association between soluble LOX-1 (sLOX-1) and pregnancy followed by delivery in women of reproductive age. Materials/Methods. Sixty-eight subjects with pregnancy followed by delivery (group 1) and 57 subjects with nongravidity (group 2) were included in this study. Levels of sLOX-1 were measured in serum by EL SA. Results. Plasma levels of sLOX-1 were significantly lower in Group 1 than Group 2 in women of reproductive age (0.52 ± 0.18 ng/mL and 0.78 ± 0.13, resp., P < 0.001). There were strong correlations between sLOX-1 levels and the number of gravida (r = −0.645, P < 0.001). The levels of sLOX-1 highly correlated with the number of parous (r = −0.683, P < 0.001). Conclusion. Our study demonstrated that serum sLOX-1 levels were associated with pregnancy followed by delivery that might predict endothelial dysfunction. We conclude that pregnancy followed by delivery may delay the beginning and progress of arteriosclerosis and its clinical manifestations in women of reproductive age.
Highlights
Even though substantial efforts have been made to improve education and public awareness and despite the use of effective medications and life-style changes for controlling the associated risk factors, coronary artery disease (CAD) remains the leading cause of death in women worldwide [1, 2]
We hypothesized that if women have been exposed for a longer time and/or at a higher level to endogenous estrogen, such as pregnancy followed by delivery and/or gravidity, they may obtain estrogen’s beneficial “cardioprotective,” “antiatherosclerosis,” and/or “antioxidant” effect
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that shows the relationship between soluble LOX-1 (sLOX-1) levels and pregnancy followed by delivery in women of reproductive age
Summary
Even though substantial efforts have been made to improve education and public awareness and despite the use of effective medications and life-style changes for controlling the associated risk factors, coronary artery disease (CAD) remains the leading cause of death in women worldwide [1, 2]. Women show high levels of estrogen just before ovulation and during the luteal phase and in the normal physiology of pregnancy, women have significantly higher levels of estrogen derived mainly from the placenta [6]. Hashimoto et al [11] reported that endothelium-dependent vasodilatation is increased in young women during the phases of their menstrual cycles when endogenous estrogen levels are high, and pregnant women show significantly high levels of estrogen. The activation of LOX-1 has been shown to lead to further oxidative stress in endothelial cells and the appearance of proinflammatory phenotype [17]. We hypothesized that if women have been exposed for a longer time and/or at a higher level to endogenous (not exogenous) estrogen, such as pregnancy followed by delivery and/or gravidity, they may obtain estrogen’s beneficial “cardioprotective,” “antiatherosclerosis,” and/or “antioxidant” effect. The purpose of the current study was to determine the association between pregnancy followed by delivery and sLOX-1
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