Cholesterol Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Cholesterol, including details on high cholesterol, hdl, ldl, diet, risks.

Alpha defensins 1, 2, and 3: potential roles in dyslipidemia and vascular dysfunction in humans.

López-Bermejo A, Chico-Julià B, Castro A, Recasens M, Esteve E, Biarnés J, Casamitjana R, Ricart W, Fernández-Real JM

Unit of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Nutrition, Dr Josep Trueta Hospital, Av. Francia s/n, 17007 Girona, Spain. uden.alopez@htrueta.scs.es

OBJECTIVES: Alpha-defensins are natural antibiotics made by neutrophils that have been reported to modulate cholesterol metabolism and vascular function; however, their role in vivo remains largely unknown. We hypothesized that alpha-defensins 1 to 3 (DEFA1-3) are associated with serum lipids and vascular reactivity in humans. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred thirteen apparently-healthy White men, participants in a prospective study of cardiovascular risk factors, were assessed for a lipid profile, insulin sensitivity (S(I), frequently-sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test), and non-stressed circulating DEFA1-3 (ELISA). In a subset of 52 subjects, vascular reactivity (high-resolution ultrasound of the brachial artery) was also assessed. Subjects in the highest quartile for plasma DEFA1-3 were found to be leaner and more insulin sensitive, and to have significantly reduced total and LDL-cholesterol, compared with subjects in the lowest quartile for circulating DEFA1-3 (P<0.0001 to P=0.002 for linear trend ANOVA). The associations with serum lipids persisted after adjustment for age, body mass index, insulin sensitivity, and smoking (which was associated with reduced plasma DEFA1-3 concentrations). Finally, endothelium-independent vasodilation increased with increasing circulating DEFA1-3 (P=0.003) and this association was not explained by age, body mass index, serum cholesterol, insulin sensitivity, or smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating DEFA1-3 are associated with serum cholesterol and vascular reactivity in humans. Alpha-defensins may have clinical implications in patients with either hypercholesterolemia or vascular dysfunction.

Published 19 April 2007 in Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 27(5): 1166-71.
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