Serum biomarkers VEGF-C and IL-6 are associated with severe human Peripheral Artery Stenosis

BACKGROUND: Emerging reports propose possible biomarkers that are related to inflammation, nutrition and lipid parameters for detection of the progression of atherosclerotic plaques, peripheral artery disease (PAD) and particularly peripheral artery stenosis (PAS). However, it remains unclear which biomarkers in serum are associated with the severity of PAS. FINDINGS: In this study, we measured serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers along with lipid and nutritional parameters in 53 patients who suffered different degrees of PAS. Serum concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor-c (VEGF-C) and IL-6 (Interleukin 6) were significantly increased in patients showing moderate or severe PAS. Furthermore, the number of blood monocytes from PAS patients was significantly increased, which showed elevated adhesion to plate-coated fibrinogen. Compared to healthy subjects, freshly isolated or LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-stimulated blood monocytes from PAS patients could produce VEGF-C and IL-6 at higher levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that the increased number of blood monocytes might play key roles during the development of severe PAS, which enhance adhesion at the local narrowed peripheral artery and secret high levels of VEGF-C and IL-6. We suggest that serum concentrations of VEGF-C and IL-6 might be used as biomarkers for diagnosis severe PAS in combination with clinical imaging examination. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12950-015-0095-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.