CRP and suPAR are differently related to anthropometry and subclinical organ damage
Stig Lyngbæk1, Thomas Sehestedt, Jacob L Marott
1Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, Denmark. stiglyngbaek@gmail.com
Insights
C-reactive protein (CRP) correlates with body size, while soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) indicates endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis, both predicting cardiovascular disease risk.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular disease research
- Inflammatory biomarkers
- Human physiology
Background:
- Low-grade inflammation is a recognized marker for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
- C-reactive protein (CRP) and soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) are independent predictors of CVD.
- This study investigates whether CRP and suPAR reflect distinct inflammatory aspects related to CVD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that CRP and suPAR reflect different inflammatory pathways associated with CVD.
- To compare the associations of CRP and suPAR with anthropometric measures and subclinical organ damage (SOD).
Main Methods:
- A study of 2273 subjects without pre-existing CVD.
- Log-transformed CRP and suPAR levels analyzed using general linear and logistic regression.
- Stratification by gender and smoking status due to interactions with body mass index (BMI).
Main Results:
- CRP positively correlated with BMI and waist circumference across genders, independent of smoking.
- suPAR showed complex associations with BMI and waist circumference, varying by gender and smoking status.
- suPAR, but not CRP, was significantly associated with increased urine albumin/creatinine ratio and carotid atherosclerosis extent.
Conclusions:
- CRP is primarily associated with anthropometric measures.
- suPAR is linked to endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis, key factors in CVD development.
- These findings suggest distinct roles for CRP and suPAR in CVD pathogenesis.
Background:
Low-grade inflammation is a marker for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The inflammatory biomarkers C-reactive protein (CRP) and soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) independently predict CVD. We tested the hypothesis that these biomarkers reflect different aspects of the inflammation associated with CVD.
Methods:
We studied 2273 subjects without CVD. Log-transformed CRP and suPAR were included in general linear and logistic regression models to compare associations with measures of anthropometry and subclinical organ damage (SOD). Owing to interactions on body mass index (BMI) (P<0.0001), the population was stratified by gender and smoking concerning anthropometry.
Results:
In both genders, independent of smoking, log-CRP was positively associated with BMI (β: 0.28 to 0.40, P<0.001) and waist circumference (WC) (β: 0.27 to 0.42, P<0.001). In contrast, in smoking women and men, log-suPAR was negatively associated with BMI and WC (β: -0.09 to -0.19, P<0.05). In non-smoking women, log-suPAR was positively associated with BMI and WC (β: 0.14 and 0.16, P<0.001), whereas no associations were found in non-smoking men. No interactions were found on SOD. Adjusted for age, sex, smoking, and physical activity, log-suPAR was associated with an increased urine albumin/creatinine ratio (standardized odds ratio (95% confidence interval (CI)) for highest vs. lower quartiles: 1.36 (1.21-1.52), whereas log-CRP was not (1.10 (0.99-1.22))), and extent of atherosclerosis (standardized proportional odds ratio (95% CI) for carotid plaques 0, 1 ≤ to ≤ 3, >3: 1.31 (1.16-1.47), whereas log-CRP was not (1.00 (0.89-1.11))).
Conclusions:
CRP is positively associated with anthropometric measures, whereas suPAR is linked to endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis.
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