Correlation of Plasma Endothelial Cell Activity With Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus Type 2

Primary Hypothesis: The aim of the present study is to investigate whether an angiogenic growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), plays a role in increased CV risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Secondary Hypotheses:

Primary Outcomes: cardiovascular morbidity and mortality

Study Abstract:

CSP 465-B, Correlation of Plasma Endothelial Cell (Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor) Activity With Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus, Type II.

Mark Zimering M.D.

Objectives: Endothelial cell dysfunction plays a role in the development of the atherosclerotic vascular lesion and it is also thought to provide a mechanism for increased urinary albumin excretion in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Micro- or macroalbuminuria are associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality in type 2 diabetes mellitus. In at least one longitudinal study in older-age onset patients, micro-or macroalbuminuria robustly predicted increased CV risk independent of other diabetes-related factors.1 The pathogenetic mechanisms underlying a significant association between micro- or macroalbuminuria and CV risk in diabetes mellitus are not known but may include: growth factors, clotting factors, lipids, or hemodynamic factors. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether an angiogenic growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), plays a role in increased CV risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Research Plan: BFGF (FGF-2) is one of the most potent known angiogenesis factors. Increased bFGF was previously associated with both endothelial cell injury and micro- or macroalbuminuria. In a prior study of 73 older-age onset veterans with type 2 diabetes mellitus (JCEM, 1996), we found plasma endothelial cell (bFGF) activity was significantly associated with glycemic levels, and (in multiple regression analysis) independently associated with both microalbuminuria and retinopathy. We will test whether plasma endothelial cell (bFGF) activity is significantly, independently associated with a pooled endpoint of cardiovascular events that includes myocardial infarction (MI), coronary revascularization, congestive heart failure (CHF), or CV mortality. We expect that increased bFGF may itself be a robust marker for increased CV risk in diabetes mellitus for three reasons. First, because bFGF was independently associated with (micro)-albuminuria in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Second, because increased bFGF was associated with increased activity in the renin-angiotensin system in vascular smooth muscle cells (Dzau, et al. JCI, 1995). And third, because (as we reported) angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) drugs substantially decreased plasma bFGF levels in (micro)- albuminuric diabetes mellitus type 2, and (as others reported) ACEi drugs substantially reduced the risk of development of CHF in patients with LVH 2, the risk of mortality after MI (8,9), and the risk of CV death in diabetic patients with proteinuria.

Because plasma endothelial cell (bFGF) activity correlated significantly with glycemic levels in diabetes mellitus type 2, plasma bFGF may be one of the pathogenetic links between glycemic levels and an increased risk of cardiovascular events in diabetes mellitus, type 2.

Methods: Blood (3 mL EDTA plasma) will be collected from each subject in Years 1, and 2 of the Study at each of 6 local participating VA substudy sites. Because plasma endothelial cell (bFGF-like) bioactivity and bFGFR-IR in vivo are stable for months and years based on our prior published studies (1-3), we anticipate that obtaining 2 specimens, 1 each in Years 1, 2 of the study, will provide sufficient data to model proportional risk.

Results: One hundred and five first cardiovascular events occurred in these 399 subjects.

The best fit model of risk factors associated with the time to first CVD occurrence (in the study) over a seven and one-half year period had as significant predictors: prior cardiovascular event [hazard ratio (HR) 3.378; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 3.079-3.807; P <0.0001), baseline plasma bFGF (HR 1.008; 95% CI 1.002-1.014; P D0.01), age (HR 1.027; 95% CI 1.004-1.051; P D0.019), baseline plasma triglycerides (HR 1.001; 95% CI 1.000-1.002; P D0.02), and diabetes duration-treatment interaction (P D0.03). Intensive glucose-lowering was associated with significantly decreased hazard ratios for CVD occurrence (0.38-0.63) in patients with known diabetes duration of 0-10 years, and nonsignificantly increased hazard ratios for CVD occurrence (0.82-1.78) in patients with longer diabetes duration. Conclusion: High level of plasma bFGF is a predictive biomarker of future CVD occurrence in this population of adult type 2 diabetes.

In conclusion, the present findings suggest that baseline plasma bFGF may be a marker of CVD risk in adult male veterans with type2 diabetes. These results suggest that increased plasma bFGF drive cell proliferation and be involved in the mechanism for increased CVD occurrence in older adults with advanced type2 diabetes mellitus.

Main Manuscript: Basic fibroblast growth factor predicts cardiovascular disease occurrence in participants from the veterans affairs diabetes trial.