Publication
Title
Homoarginine levels are regulated by L-arginine : glycine amidinotransferase and affect stroke outcome results from human and murine studies
Author
Abstract
Background Endogenous arginine homologues, including homoarginine, have been identified as novel biomarkers for cardiovascular disease and outcomes. Our studies of human cohorts and a confirmatory murine model associated the arginine homologue homoarginine and its metabolism with stroke pathology and outcome. Methods and Results Increasing homoarginine levels were independently associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality in patients with ischemic stroke (7.4 years of follow-up; hazard ratio for 1-SD homoarginine, 0.79 [95% confidence interval, 0.64-0.96]; P=0.019; n=389). Homoarginine was also independently associated with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale+age score and 30-day mortality after ischemic stroke (P<0.05; n=137). A genome-wide association study revealed that plasma homoarginine was strongly associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms in the l-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (AGAT) gene (P<2.1x10(-8); n=2806), and increased AGAT expression in a cell model was associated with increased homoarginine. Next, we used 2 genetic murine models to investigate the link between plasma homoarginine and outcome after experimental ischemic stroke: (1) an AGAT deletion (AGAT(-/-)) and (2) a guanidinoacetate N-methyltransferase deletion (GAMT(-/-)) causing AGAT upregulation. As suggested by the genome-wide association study, homoarginine was absent in AGAT(-/-) mice and increased in GAMT(-/-) mice. Cerebral damage and neurological deficits in experimental stroke were increased in AGAT(-/-) mice and attenuated by homoarginine supplementation, whereas infarct size in GAMT(-/-) mice was decreased compared with controls. Conclusions Low homoarginine appears to be related to poor outcome after ischemic stroke. Further validation in future trials may lead to therapeutic adjustments of homoarginine metabolism that alleviate stroke and other vascular disorders.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Circulation / American Heart Association. - New York, N.Y.
Publication
New York, N.Y. : 2013
ISSN
0009-7322
DOI
10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.112.000580
Volume/pages
128 :13 (2013) , p. 1451-1461
ISI
000324831600017
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 08.11.2013
Last edited 09.10.2023
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