The expression and clinical significance of MATK in chronic hypoperfusion patients with white matter hyperintensity

Abstract Background Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) is one of the important causes of vascular cognitive impairment, and such people can often be found with white matter hyperintensity (WMH) under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This study aimed to investigate the expression and clinical significance of MATK in CCH patients with WMH. Methods A total of 42 patients with CCH complicated with WMH were defined as the WMH group and 45 healthy volunteers as the control group. The peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) levels of MATK were separated and detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain (qPCR). A correlation analysis of MATK level and Fazekas scales in patients with WMH was also conducted. Results The qPCR results showed that the relative MATK expression was downregulated in the WMH group compared to the control group; the expression of MATK in the control group was 1.84 ± 0.87, while the expression of MATK in the WMH group was 1.20 ± 0.99, which was a statistically significant difference (t = 3.24, P < 0.01). Correlation analysis showed that the MATK level in the WMH group was negatively correlated with the Fazekas scale of WMH (R 2 = 0.3405, P < 0.001). MOCA (OR, 0.766; 95% CI 0.594–0.986; P < 0.05) and MATK (OR, 0.498; 95% CI 0.268–0.927; P < 0.05) were independent high-risk factors to predict the clinical outcomes of WMH in patients with CCH. Conclusions The expression of MATK in the peripheral blood of CCH patients was negatively correlated with the severity of WMH, and it may help CCH patients identify the progression of WMH as early as possible.