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Published on: May 3, 2018
Association of serum fetuin-A with carotid arterial stiffness
Katsuhito Mori1, Masanori Emoto, Takahiro Araki
1Metabolism, Endocrinology and Molecular Medicine, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. ktmori@med.osaka-cu.ac.jp
Insights
Serum fetuin-A levels are linked to arterial stiffness in healthy individuals. This finding suggests fetuin-A may play a role in atherosclerosis development beyond its known function in vascular calcification.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Nephrology
Background:
- Fetuin-A is a glycoprotein known to inhibit ectopic calcification.
- Vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients predicts cardiovascular death.
- Low fetuin-A levels correlate with mortality in uremic patients, potentially via vascular calcification regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between serum fetuin-A levels and arterial stiffness.
- To explore the role of fetuin-A in atherosclerosis in healthy subjects.
Main Methods:
- Study included 141 healthy subjects.
- Serum fetuin-A levels were measured.
- Carotid arterial stiffness (stiffness parameter beta) was assessed using ultrasound and phase-locked echo-tracking.
Main Results:
- Serum fetuin-A levels showed a significant correlation with stiffness parameter beta (r = 0.200, P = 0.018).
- Fetuin-A independently contributed to stiffness parameter beta, alongside age (beta = 0.166, P = 0.033).
- Multiple regression analysis indicated R(2) = 0.310, P < 0.0001.
Conclusions:
- Serum fetuin-A levels are associated with carotid arterial stiffness in healthy individuals.
- This association is independent of known atherogenic factors.
Objective:
Fetuin-A is a circulating glycoprotein which is well characterized as an inhibitor of ectopic calcification. Vascular calcification commonly found in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients is a predictor of cardiovascular death. Recently, several groups have demonstrated that low fetuin-A levels are associated with mortality in uraemic patients, possibly through regulation of vascular calcification. However, the physiological significance of fetuin-A in atherosclerosis remains unknown, except in specific conditions, such as vascular calcification in CKD patients. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between serum fetuin-A levels and arterial stiffness, a functional property of atherosclerosis, in healthy subjects.
Patients And Measurements:
The study subjects comprised 141 healthy subjects. We measured serum fetuin-A levels and stiffness parameter beta for the common carotid artery, which was assessed by ultrasound using a phase-locked echo-tracking system.
Results:
Simple regression analyses indicated that serum fetuin-A levels were significantly correlated with stiffness parameter beta (r = 0.200, P = 0.018). Multiple regression analyses showed that, besides age, fetuin-A (beta = 0.166, P = 0.033) independently contribute to the stiffness parameter beta (R(2) = 0.310, P < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
Serum fetuin-A level is associated with carotid arterial stiffness, independent of known atherogenic factors in healthy subjects.
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