Serum osteoprotegerin levels are associated with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease.
BACKGROUND
Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a secretory glycoprotein that belongs to the tumor necrosis factor receptor family. OPG-deficient mice develop severe osteoporosis and medial arterial calcification of the aorta and renal arteries. OPG immunoreactivity was demonstrated in the normal blood vessels and in early atherosclerotic lesions. A recent clinical study suggests that there is a significant correlation between elevated serum OPG levels and cardiovascular mortality. We examined whether serum OPG levels are associated with the progression of coronary artery disease (CAD).


RESULTS
Serum OPG levels were examined in 201 patients who underwent coronary angiography because of stable chest pain. The number of diseased vessels was used to represent the severity of CAD. Serum OPG levels were measured by ELISA and were significantly greater in patients with significant stenosis of the coronary arteries than in those without stenosis. As the severity of CAD increased, there was a significant increase in serum OPG levels. Serum OPG levels were 0.94+/-0.34, 1.04+/-0.38, 1.19+/-0.38, and 1.44+/-0.54 ng/mL (medians 0.91, 0.99, 1.09, and 1.37) for the subjects with normal coronary arteries or luminal irregularities, 1-vessel disease, 2-vessel disease, and 3-vessel disease, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that serum OPG levels were significantly associated with the presence of CAD [odds ratio, 5.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.7 to 16.0].


CONCLUSIONS
Our data show that serum OPG levels are associated with the presence and severity of CAD, suggesting that OPG may be involved in the progression of CAD.
Department of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Molecular Medicine, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. jono@med.osaka-cu.ac.jp
Shuichi
S
Jono
Yuji
Y
Ikari
Atsushi
A
Shioi
Katsuhito
K
Mori
Takami
T
Miki
Kazuhiro
K
Hara
Yoshiki
Y
Nishizawa
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000097:blood*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D012307:Risk Factors
D006023:Glycoproteins; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C506030:TNFRSF11B protein, human