Evaluation of genetic polymorphism of mannose-binding lectin, the gene expression of Toll-like receptors (TLR)and cytokine profile as bio-markers of cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), especially coronary artery disease (CAD), comprises the main cause of mortality in postmenopausal women. CHD is caused by the atherosclerotic process of progressive evolution, which involves a number of risk factors such as hypercholesterolemia, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, stress, inactivity and obesity, which cannot be ignored in the approach to climacteric women. Through the estimation of risk, we can suggest the establishment of priority measures for primary and secondary prevention, in an attempt to reduce the occurrence of CAD. However, the detection of early markers would allow the recognition of subclinical atherosclerotic disease with early intervention on modifiable risk factors, important in management of post-menopausal women. Atherosclerosis is a disease of the arterial wall, characterized by inflammation and remodeling that can manifest as acute vascular event, becoming clinically apparent. In CAD, conventional risk factors remain important, but individual differences in immune profile may modulate the severity of the atherosclerotic process. The significance of bio-inflammatory markers in women after menopause and the risk of atherosclerosis is an important area of study. Our hypothesis is that the cytokines profile and the expression of Toll-like receptors, correlating with the genetic polymorphism of mannose-binding lecitin (MBL) prognosis is the occurrence of CHD sub-clinical ultrasound in postmenopausal menopause. It is expected that the evaluation of early biomarkers - clinical, immuno-genetic and ultrasound - of atherosclerotic disease in women after menopause may be to identify patients at cardiovascular risk or with subclinical disease thus proposing preventive measures effective in reducing the occurrence of manifest disease leading cause of mortality in this population, affecting considerably the quality of life in menopause.Aim objective of the principal project is to assess the early bio-markers - clinical, immune-genetic and ultrasound - the atherosclerotic disease in posmenopausal women followed at the Botucatu Medical School. The especific objective will be to evaluate the role of genetic polymorphism of mannose-binding lecitin (MBL), the gene expression of Toll-like receptors (TRLs) and the profile of cytokines in modulating the risk for atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women.