title: Serum levels of osteoprotegerin and RANKL in patients with ST elevation acute myocardial infarction.
abstract: OPG (osteoprotegerin) has been suggested to have an important role in atherogenesis and vascular calcification. In the present study, we have investigated serum OPG and RANKL (receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand) concentrations in patients with ST elevation AMI (acute myocardial infarction) and established CAD (coronary artery disease). OPG and RANKL were measured in 58 male patients hospitalized in the coronary care unit with ST elevation AMI, in 52 asymptomatic male patients with an established diagnosis of CAD and in 52 healthy male controls. These last two groups were matched with the AMI patients for age and body mass index. OPG was significantly (P<0.05) higher in patients with AMI at 1 h after AMI (8.04+/-4.86 pmol/l) than in both patients with established CAD (4.92+/-1.65 pmol/l) and healthy subjects (3.15+/-1.01 pmol/l). Subjects with established CAD had significantly (P<0.05) increased OPG levels compared with controls. RANKL levels in patients with established CAD (0.02+/-0.05 pmol/l) and with AMI (0.11+/-0.4 pmol/l) were significantly (P<0.05) lower compared with controls (0.32+/-0.35 pmol/l). In the AMI group, OPG decreased significantly (P<0.05) at 1 and 4 weeks after infarction (8.04+/-4.86 compared with 6.38+/-3.87 and 6.55+/-2.6 pmol/l respectively), but OPG levels, either at 1 h or 1-4 weeks after AMI, remained significantly (P<0.05) higher compared with established CAD (4.92+/-1.65 pmol/l) and controls (3.15+/-1.01 pmol/l). Our data show for the first time that OPG levels are increased in ST elevation AMI within 1 h of infarction. Whether the increase in OPG is a consequence or a causal factor of plaque destabilization deserves further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Messina, Messina, Sicily, Italy. crisafulli@jumpy.it
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crisafulli
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Micari
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Altavilla
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saporito
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sardella
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Passaniti
authors.forename: Santi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raffa
authors.forename: Gaspare
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'anneo
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lucà
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mioni
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arrigo
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Squadrito
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D053245:RANK Ligand; D053246:Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000097:blood*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D053245:RANK Ligand; D053246:Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C505686:TNFRSF11A protein, human; C506030:TNFRSF11B protein, human; C505688:TNFSF11 protein, human