@article{10902/30127,
year = {2023},
url = {https://hdl.handle.net/10902/30127},
abstract = {Background
Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-B1) is a multifunctional cytokine that has anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. TGF-B1 has been linked to cardiovascular disease in the general population. The immunosuppressive effect of TGF-B1 is believed to be dysregulated in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In the present work, we aimed to study the relationship of serum levels of TGF-B1 with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in patients with SLE.

Methods
The study included 284 patients with SLE. Serum levels of TGF-B1 and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis (by carotid ultrasonography) were evaluated. In addition, the complete lipid profile and insulin resistance were analyzed. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analysis was performed to establish the relationship of TGF-B1 with carotid subclinical atherosclerosis adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors that included lipid profile and insulin resistance.

Results
Circulating TGF-B1 was positively and significantly associated with higher levels of LDL:HDL cholesterol ratio and atherogenic index. TGF-B1 was also associated with significantly lower levels of HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1. Remarkably, TGF-B1 was associated with the presence of carotid plaque not only after adjustment for demographics (age, sex, body mass index, diabetes, hypertension, and aspirin use) but also after adjustment for relationships of TGF-B1 with lipid profile molecules, insulin resistance, and SLEDAI disease score (odds ratio 1.14 [95% confidence interval 1.003-1.30], p= 0.045).

Conclusion
TGF-B1 serum levels are positively and independently associated with the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis disease in patients with SLE},
organization = {Funding. This work was supported by a grant to I.F-A. from the Spanish Ministry of Health, Subdirección General de Evaluación y Fomento de la Investigación, Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2013–2016, and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional—FEDER—(Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias, PI20/00084).},
publisher = {BioMed Central},
title = {Transforming growth factor beta 1 is associated with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus},
author = {Gómez-Bernal, Fuensanta and Quevedo-Abeledo, Juan Carlos and García-González, María and Fernández-Cladera, Yolanda and González-Rivero, Agustín F. and Martín-González, Candelaria and González-Gay Mantecón, Miguel Ángel and Ferraz-Amaro, Iván},
}