Prominent interconnected biomarkers Glutathione, Glycine and serine may predict growth of abdominal aortic aneurysms: Study

A new study published in the journal of Atherosclerosis showed that glutathione, glycine, and serine were one of the prominent interconnected biomarkers that linked to the pathogenesis and development of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Since AAA grows slowly, many patients under observation will never need surgery in their lives. These circulating indicators may be useful in tailoring surgical scheduling or monitoring intervals since several cardiovascular blood biomarkers seem to be dysregulated in AAA patients. The pathogenesis of AAA is still being studied, although there are currently no biomarkers for individualized surveillance. Thus, Alexander Vanmaele and team looked out to find possible circulating biomarkers for AAA development on serial CT scans.

This multicenter prospective cohort research included patients with an AAA (maximal diameter ≥40 mm). To measure AAA diameter and volume, participants had baseline blood drawn and annual CT scans. Mass spectrometry (LC-TQMS) and the proximity extension assay (Olink Cardiovascular III) or individual ELISA panels were used to quantify proteins and metabolites, respectively. Biomarker relationships with AAA volume growth rate and the risk of exceeding the surgical threshold were investigated using orthogonal partial least squares, linear mixed-effects, and Cox regression.

A total of 109 (90.8%) male patients with a mean age of 72 who had 271 biomarkers (176 metabolites, 95 proteins) tested. The findings suggest that the volume was 109 mL, and the median baseline maximum AAA diameter was 47.8 mm. The average yearly growth rate of AAA volume was 11.5%, with a 95% confidence range (CI) of 10.4–12.7. With a median follow-up period of 23.2 months, 49 patients were eligible for surgery.

When compared to the actual aneurysm size, the AAA volume growth rate was 1.97 percent, 95% CI (0.97, 2.97) and 1.74 percent, 95% CI (0.78, 2.71) greater in patients whose baseline glutathione and glycine levels were one standard deviation (SD) higher. Regardless of age or baseline AAA size, serine was linked to the chance of crossing the surgical threshold. Overall, glutathione, glycine, and serine were shown to be promising biomarkers for AAA advancement in the current investigation regardless of AAA size. 

Source:

Vanmaele, A., Bouwens, E., Hoeks, S. E., Kindt, A., Lamont, L., Fioole, B., Budde, R. PJ., ten Raa, S., Hussain, B., Oliveira-Pinto, J., Ijpma, A. S., van Lier, F., Akkerhuis, K. M., Majoor-Krakauer, D. F., de Bruin, J. L., Hankemeier, T., de Rijke, Y., Verhagen, H. JM., Boersma, E., & Kardys, I. (2024). Targeted plasma multi-omics propose glutathione, glycine and serine as biomarkers for abdominal aortic aneurysm growth on serial CT scanning. In Atherosclerosis (Vol. 398, p. 118620). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.118620