Markers of apoptosis, cell proliferation, endothelial dysfunction in patients with peripheral atherosclerosis

Purpose: to determine the parameters of Bcl2 and Bax proteins, platelet growth factor ВВ (PDGF BB), nitric oxide (NO) metabolites in patients with peripheral atherosclerosis (РАD). Materials and methods: The study included 60 patients with stage IIB-IV disease. All patients were divided into 3 groups. Group A included 20 patients with stage IIB disease, group B included 20 patients with stage III, and group C included 20 patients with stage IV. To determine the reference values, 20 healthy volunteers were included in the study. At inclusion in the study, we assessed the level of apoptosis proteins Bcl2 and Bax, endothelial dysfunction markers (NO), cell proliferation markers (PDGF BB) in blood serum by ELISA. Results: In group A the values of Bcl2 (6,5 ng/ml), Bax (13,5 ng/ml), NO (298 μm/ml), PDGF BB (10,1 ng/ml) were comparable with the values of healthy volunteers (5,3 ng/ml, 13,1 ng/ml, 339 μm/ml, 8,5 ng/ml respectively). In group B and C patients, the level of Bcl2 protein (4,1, 5 ng/ml, respectively), NO metabolites (278, 202 μM/ml) was reduced, while the level of Bax protein (22,8, 26,4 ng/ml), PDGF BB (10,3, 29,1 ng/ml) was increased compared to the values of healthy volunteers. In patients of group C, the level of PDGF BB (p = 0,001), Bax (p = 0,004) was statistically significantly increased with a reduced level of NO compared with the values in patients of group A. Conclusions: In patients with peripheral arterial disease with an increase in the stage of the disease, an increase in the level of proapoptotic protein Bax and platelet growth factor BB occurs against the background of a decrease in the level of nitric oxide metabolites.