Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 22, 2026

A Novel in vivo Gene Transfer Technique and in vitro Cell Based Assays for the Study of Bone Loss in Musculoskeletal Disorders
11:47

A Novel in vivo Gene Transfer Technique and in vitro Cell Based Assays for the Study of Bone Loss in Musculoskeletal Disorders

Published on: June 8, 2014

12.2K

Osteoprotegerin and osteoprotegerin/TRAIL ratio are associated with cardiovascular dysfunction and mortality among

Marek Kuźniewski1, Danuta Fedak2, Paulina Dumnicka3

  • 1Chair and Department of Nephrology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland.

Advances in Medical Sciences
|April 30, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a biomarker for cardiovascular dysfunction and mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. The OPG/TRAIL ratio also predicts cardiovascular issues and mortality in these patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Nephrology
  • Biomarkers

Background:

  • Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially those on dialysis, face high rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
  • Osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) are implicated in cardiovascular complications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of OPG, RANKL, and TRAIL as cardiovascular risk factors in patients with stage 5 CKD.
  • To assess the predictive value of these factors for mortality in CKD patients.

Main Methods:

  • Measured OPG, RANKL, and TRAIL concentrations in 69 hemodialyzed CKD patients and 35 healthy controls.
  • Assessed cardiovascular dysfunction using aortic pulse wave velocity (AoPWV), carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT), coronary artery calcium score (CACS), and NT-proBNP.
  • Collected 7-year follow-up data on cardiovascular and overall mortality.

Main Results:

  • CKD patients had higher OPG levels, lower total soluble RANKL, and a higher OPG/RANKL ratio compared to controls.
  • OPG and the OPG/TRAIL ratio positively predicted long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.
  • OPG correlated with AoPWV, CCA-IMT, and NT-proBNP; OPG/TRAIL correlated with AoPWV and NT-proBNP, independent of traditional risk factors (except age).

Conclusions:

  • OPG is confirmed as a biomarker for cardiovascular dysfunction and a mortality predictor in stage 5 CKD.
  • The OPG/TRAIL ratio shows potential as a predictor of cardiovascular dysfunction and mortality in this patient group.
Abstract

Keywords:
Cardiovascular diseaseChronic kidney diseaseOsteoprotegerinReceptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligandTumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand

More Related Videos

Osteoclast Derivation from Mouse Bone Marrow06:17

Osteoclast Derivation from Mouse Bone Marrow

Published on: November 6, 2014

25.1K

Related Concept Videos

Drug Dosing in Renal Diseases: Estimation of Glomerular Filtration Rate Based on Serum Creatinine Concentration01:28

Drug Dosing in Renal Diseases: Estimation of Glomerular Filtration Rate Based on Serum Creatinine Concentration

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) can be estimated from serum creatinine using the modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) formula or the chronic kidney disease–epidemiology collaboration (CKD–EPI) equation. Both methods are widely used in clinical practice to assess kidney function and guide treatment decisions.The MDRD equation does not require weight or height measurements and is normalized to the body surface area of 1.73 m², considered the average adult surface area.
295
Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers01:19

Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers

Cardiac biomarkers are critical in diagnosing, prognosing, and managing cardiovascular diseases. Routine measurement of specific biomarkers such as B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and homocysteine (Hcy) is common practice in clinical settings to evaluate heart function and predict cardiovascular events.
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
730
Acute Kidney Injury II: Pathophysiology01:29

Acute Kidney Injury II: Pathophysiology

Acute kidney injury (AKI) causes are categorized into three primary categories based on the location of the injury: prerenal, intrarenal (or intrinsic), and postrenal causes. This classification guides clinical management and illustrates how different pathways can impair kidney function.Etiology and Pathophysiology of Acute Kidney Injury1. Prerenal causesEtiology: Prerenal Acute Kidney Injury, the most common type, occurs when reduced blood flow to the kidneys decreases filtration capacity...
1.7K
Serum Studies: Renal Function Tests01:24

Serum Studies: Renal Function Tests

Renal function tests are crucial for assessing kidney health, monitoring disease progression, and evaluating the kidneys' efficiency in waste elimination, fluid balance, and electrolyte regulation. These tests offer critical insights into kidney function, even though routine measurements may appear normal until there is a significant decline in the glomerular filtration rate or GFR. Typically, signs of kidney impairment only become evident when the GFR falls to about 50% of its normal level.
593
Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling01:31

Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling

Osteoclasts are cells responsible for bone resorption and remodeling. They originate from hematopoietic progenitor cells present in the bone marrow. Numerous progenitor cells fuse to form multinucleated cells, each with 10-20 nuclei. A single osteoclast has a diameter of 150 to 200 µM. These cells have ruffled borders that break down the underlying bone tissue and release minerals such as calcium into the blood in bone resorption. Osteoclasts cling to bones with their ruffled edges during...
4.6K
Renal Regulation of Acid-Base Balance01:29

Renal Regulation of Acid-Base Balance

Metabolic reactions in the body produce nonvolatile acids, such as sulfuric acid, which generate an acid load of approximately 1 mEq of H+ per kilogram of body weight daily. Excreting H+ in the urine is essential to balance this acid load.
In the kidneys, cells within the proximal convoluted tubules (PCT) and the collecting ducts secrete hydrogen ions (H+) into the tubular fluid. Specifically, in the PCT, Na+/H+ antiporters secrete H+ while reabsorbing Na+.
However, the intercalated cells in...
2.2K