Evaluation of serum platelet-derived growth factor receptor-ß and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in microvascular angina

OBJECTIVE: Microvascular angina (MVA) is a coronary microcirculation disease. Research on microcirculatory dysfunction has revealed several biomarkers involved in the etiopathogenesis of MVA. Platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFR-β) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are 2 biomarkers associated with microcirculation, particularly pericytes function. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of PDGFR-β and BDNF in MVA. METHODS: Ninety-one patients (median age, 56 y; age range, 40–79 y; 36 men) with MVA and 61 control group subjects (median age, 52 y; age range, 38–76 y; 29 men) were included in the study. Serum concentrations of PDGFR-β and BDNF were measured with commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. RESULTS: PDGFR-β [2.82 ng/ml; interquartile range (IQR), 0.57–7.79 ng/ml vs. 2.27 ng/ml; IQR, 0.41–7.16 ng/ml; p<0.0005] and BDNF (2.41 ng/ml; IQR, 0.97–7.97 ng/ml vs. 1.92 ng/ml; IQR, 1.07–6.67 ng/ml; p=0.023) concentrations were significantly higher in patients with MVA compared with the controls. PDGFR-β correlated positively with age (r=0.26, p=0.001), low-density lipoprotein (r=0.18; p=0.02), and BDNF (r=0.47; p<0.001), and BDNF showed a significant positive correlation with age (r=0.20; p=0.01). In binary logistic regression analysis, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, uric acid, and PDGFR-β values were found to be independent predictors of MVA. CONCLUSION: MVA is associated with higher PDGFR-β and BDNF levels. This association may indicate an abnormality in microvascular function. Future studies are required to determine the role of these biomarkers in the pathogenesis of MVA. (Anatol J Cardiol 2020; 24: 397-404)