Cardiotrophin-1 as a prognostic biomarker of hypertension and a key regulator of cardiac glucose metabolism

Background. Hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and obesity are among the most common diseases in the world, and their growth rates are of a pandemic nature. Since cardiovascular diseases still occupy a leading place in the structure of mortality, the study of biomarkers continues that can be key in the diagnosis of early signs of cardiovascular pathology. Such promising molecule is cardiotrophin-1 (CTF-1). CTF-1 is a protein with a molecular weight of 21.5 kDa, which belongs to the interleukin-6 (IL-6) family. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the circulating level of CTF-1 in comorbid patients with hypertension, and to conduct a comparative analysis of its serum concentration in the presence of various comorbidities. Materials and methods. One hundred and eleven patients with hypertension (men/women — 50/61) aged (54.37 ± 1.18) years and 20 persons of the control group were examined. In the process of examination, they were divided into 4 groups depending on the presence of comorbid pathology: hypertension — group 1 (n = 22); hypertension combined with obesity — group 2 (n = 30); hypertension and T2DM — group 3 (n = 31); hypertension, T2DM and obesity — group 4 (n = 28). In all patients, body weight and height were measured, body mass index (BMI) was calculated, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, lipid metabolism indicators were determined, systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels were measured. CTF-1 content in blood serum was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. A direct correlation of CTF-1 level with weight, BMI, HbA1c level, systolic and diastolic blood pressure was found (p < 0.001). The data obtained prove that CTF-1 can be a trigger for the occurrence of cardiovascular complications, since its level progressively increases with increasing severity of comorbid pathology, and its highest serum concentration is found in patients with hypertension, concomitant T2DM and obesity. The detected changes demonstrate the role of CTF-1, the adipose tissue hormone, in the development of comorbid pathology and make it possible to assert that CTF-1 is a potential biomarker of cardiovascular complications. Conclusions. The level of CTF-1 was significantly higher in patients with hypertension, T2DM, obesity compared to those with hypertension, hypertension and obesity, as well as compared to this indicator in the control group. The concentration of CTF-1 in blood serum positively correlates with the levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body weight, BMI, total cholesterol and HbA1c level. The study of the relationship between the serum level of CTF-1 and metabolic and hormonal indicators in comorbid patients is a promising direction for further research.