Expression of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α (HIF1A) and Lp-PLA2 in Low, Intermediate, and High Cardiovascular Disease Risk Population

BACKGROUND: The pathomechanism of CVD is a complex and multifactorial process. The primary mechanism of CVD is atherosclerosis. Inflammation in atherogenesis raises the risk of hypoxia, which will activate hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF1A). Also, together with lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), an inflammatory mediator for atherogenesis. PURPOSE: This study aims to measure the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF1A) expression and its correlation to Lp-PLA2 expression at low-risk, intermediate, and high-risk CVD populations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study used a correlational analysis method with a total sampling technique in 160 individuals in the risk population. The atherosclerosis risk group was analyzed using the Framingham Risk Score and categorized into low, intermediate, and high-risk groups. Venous blood samples taken from respondents were measured using the ELISA method with Lp-PLA2 and HIF-1α as parameters. Data were analyzed using normality test, homogeneity test, one-way ANOVA, post hoc–Tukey HSD, and Pearson correlation. RESULTS: The concentration of HIF1A had a very strong correlation with Lp-PLA2 expression, both in the low-risk group (r = 0.512), intermediate (r = 0.512), and high (r = 0.715) (P <0.05). However, the concentrations of Lp-PLA2 did not match the FRS. CONCLUSION: HIF1A expression increased with increasing risk, while Lp-PLA2 expression decreased with increasing risk of atherosclerosis based on the FRS category. There is a significant correlation between HIF1A expression and Lp-PLA2 expression based on FRS.