The goal of this observational study is to learn whether activation of the GLP-1 receptor could represent a therapeutic target by characterizing its expression and associated inflammatory mechanisms in patients with peripheral artery disease, according to disease severity, in adults with symptomatic lower-limb peripheral arterial disease.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Is the level of GLP-1 receptor (GLP1R) expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) different between patients with intermittent claudication (ischemia of effort) and those with chronic limb-threatening ischemia?
* Is GLP1R expression associated with inflammatory and oxidative profiles of PBMC?
* Can GLP-1 receptor agonists reverse inflammatory and oxidative alterations induced by plasma from patients with peripheral artery disease in endothelial cell cultures?
* Are there specific plasma proteomic signatures associated with GLP1R overexpression?
Researchers will compare patients with intermittent claudication to patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia to see if disease severity is associated with differences in GLP1R expression, PBMC inflammatory/oxidative phenotype, and plasma proteomic profiles.
Participants will:
* Provide an additional blood sample (15 mL) collected during a routine, clinically indicated blood draw
* Have PBMC isolated for measurement of GLP1R expression and assessment of inflammatory and oxidative markers
* Have plasma analyzed for proteomic profiling and used in in-vitro endothelial cell experiments
Participation ends after completion of the blood sampling, and no additional procedures beyond standard clinical care are required.