Association of YKL-40 with endothelial dysfunction in patients with essential hypertension

Human cartilage glycoprotein 39 (YKL-40) is related with presence and extent of atherosclerosis, which can be a new biomarker of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. The relationship between YKL-40 and endothelial dysfunction in patients with essential hypertension (EH) has not been intensively investigated. The relationship between serum level of YKL-40 and endothelial dysfunction was evaluated in 60 EH subjects and 50 normal control (NEH) subjects. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure serum levels of YKL-40. Brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) was used to measure endothelial-dependent nitric oxide-mediated vasodilatory capacity as the function of endothelial index. This study demonstrated that YKL-40 expression was significantly increased ( p < 0.05) in EH subjects compared with NEH subjects. The FMD was significantly impaired in EH subjects compared with NEH subjects. YKL-40 was not only negatively correlated with FMD, but also with carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT). Multiple liner regression analysis identified that YKL-40 was independent of FMD development. The level of YKL-40 was elevated in EH patients and inversely related with FMD and may be independent of endothelial dysfunction in EH.