Circulating levels of amyloid-beta (1-40) peptide associate with cardiometabolic traits and risk for metabolic dysfunction
Authors: Sopova K , Delialis D , Aivalioti E , Athanasopoulos S , Georgiopoulos G , Stamatelopoulos K , Stellos K 
Published: June 2024

Background and Aims

The ageing-associated amyloid-beta 1-40 peptide (Αbeta40) has recently emerged as a blood-based biomarker of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Its levels predict cardiovascular death and MACE in patients with established CVD including coronary artery disease or heart failure. The clinical value of Abeta40 in patients with metabolic syndrome who do not concomitantly have clinically overt CVD or other end-organ damage remains poorly understood. At the present study we investigated the clinical value of plasma Αbeta40 in patients with pre- or established metabolic syndrome who are at risk for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).

Methods

Αbeta40 was measured in plasma by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and cardiometabolic traits (waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting triglycerides, fasting HDL cholesterol, and fasting glucose) were determined in a mixed population (n=888) of patients with established (n=243) and pre- or without metabolic syndrome (n=645) who did not have clinical signs of established cardiometabolic disease (heart failure, coronary artery disease, MASLD, chronic kidney disease). The endpoint of the study was the association of Abeta40 with cardiometabolic indices and risk (BARD score) for MASLD. Odds ratio (OR) was calculated by ordinal regression analysis for the increasing incidence of metabolic syndrome components per increasing Abeta40 (1-SD) after adjustment for age, sex, smoking status and hyperlipidemia.

Results

Abeta40 levels are associated with the presence of metabolic syndrome and with higher odds for increasing incidence of metabolic syndrome components (prediabetes, low HDL-C levels, high triglyceride levels, increased waist circumference and high-risk for MASLD) after adjustment for sex, age, smoking status, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Increased Abeta40 plasma levels were associated with decreased HDL-C levels and increased triglyceride levels after adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors (age, sex, smoking status, hypertension and hyperlipidemia). Among the total population (n=888), we identified n=473 subjects with increased MASLD risk if any of the following was present: hepatic steatosis index≥36 or fatty liver index≥60 or Fib-4 index≥2.67 or NAFLD score≥0.675. Among patients with high-risk for MASLD, patients with increased BARD score had significantly higher Abeta40 levels. Increased Abeta40 levels were associated with increased odds for AST/ALT≥0.8 ratio and increased odds for BARD score≥2 after adjustment for age, sex, smoking status, hypertension and hyperlipidemia.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that Abeta40 peptide is associated with cardiometabolic traits and risk for MASLD. Whether Abeta40 may emerge as an early cardiometabolic prognostic biomarker, future longitudinal studies are warranted to determine the prognostic value of Abeta40 for the development of cardiometabolic diseases in patients with metabolic syndrome.