Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered a new potential risk marker for cardiovascular disease that specifically affects women. This groundbreaking study, recently published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology, sheds light on the connection between low levels of an anti-inflammatory antibody and the increased risk of heart attacks and coronary heart disease in older women.
Cardiovascular disease is a major health concern in Sweden, claiming the lives of both men and women. While extensive research has been done on heart health in men, studies focusing on women have been lacking. Women are often affected by cardiovascular issues later in life and have a unique set of risk factors, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart failure. The new study reveals the significance of low levels of antibodies to phosphorylcholine, known as anti-PC, as an independent risk marker for cardiovascular disease in older women, a discovery previously observed in men.
“Our research demonstrates that low levels of the natural antibody to phosphorylcholine can serve as a valuable risk marker for cardiovascular disease in women, separate from traditional risk factors. Previous studies have shown that this antibody possesses anti-inflammatory properties, offering protection against atherosclerosis, a condition characterized by chronic inflammation of the blood vessel walls,” explains Johan Frostegård, Professor of Medicine at the Institute of Environmental Medicine and Head of the Immunology and Chronic Disease Unit.
The study, conducted using the Swedish Mammography Cohort (SMC), monitored 932 women with an average age of 66 over a span of 16 years. Of these participants, 113 women developed cardiovascular disease. The findings revealed that women with elevated levels of the anti-PC antibody exhibited a 25% lower risk of suffering from coronary heart disease and heart attacks. However, the study did not determine a specific protective level of the antibody.
“Our next steps involve establishing a threshold for anti-PC levels that can serve as a risk indicator, akin to established parameters like high blood pressure. We are currently undertaking a larger study encompassing both men and women with the aim of defining such a threshold,” adds Johan Frostegård.
The researchers anticipate that this study will pave the way for the development of a vaccine against atherosclerosis, aimed at increasing anti-PC levels in individuals with dangerously low levels of the antibody.
Financial support for the research was provided by the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation, the Swedish Science Fund, the King Gustaf V Foundation’s 80th Anniversary Fund, and the EU consortium CVDIMMUNE. Johan Frostegård, who also holds patents related to anti-PC, is a co-founder of Annexin Pharmaceuticals.
