Serum levels of Growth Arrest-Specific 6 protein and soluble AXL in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Background: Serum soluble AXL (sAXL) and its ligand, Growth Arrest-Specific 6 protein (GAS6), intervene in tissue repair processes. AXL is increased in end-stage heart failure, but the role of GAS6 and sAXL in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is unknown. Objectives: To study the association of sAXL and GAS6 acutely and six months following STEMI with heart failure and left ventricular remodelling. Methods: GAS6 and sAXL were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at one day, seven days and six months in 227 STEMI patients and 20 controls. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance was performed during admission and at six months to measure infarct size and left ventricular function. Results: GAS6, but not sAXL, levels during admission were significantly lower in STEMI than in controls. AXL increased progressively over time (p1) had higher values of sAXL at day 1 (48.9±11.9 vs. 44.0±10.7 ng/ml; p