Soluble Fas, a mediator of apoptosis, C-reactive protein, and coronary and extracoronary atherosclerosis. The Rotterdam Coronary Calcification Study.
BACKGROUND
Findings from laboratory studies strongly suggest a role for apoptosis, the process of programmed cell death, in cardiovascular disease. No population-based study has yet investigated whether serum levels of soluble forms of Fas, a receptor capable of inducing the apoptosis cascade, are associated with coronary and extracoronary atherosclerosis.


METHODS
Within the Rotterdam Coronary Calcification Study, a population-based cohort study, we measured coronary calcification using electron-beam computed tomography, abdominal aortic calcification by abdominal X-ray, carotid plaques and common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) by ultrasonography, and lower extremity atherosclerosis by computation of the ankle-arm index. Levels of sFas and of the inflammatory mediator C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in 1036 participants.


RESULTS
Levels of sFas were not related to coronary or extracoronary atherosclerosis. CRP showed strong associations with measures of atherosclerosis, including coronary atherosclerosis, which largely remained after adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study do not support a role for sFas in the identification of subjects with atherosclerosis.
van der Meer
Irene M
IM
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Oei
Hok-Hay S
HH
Hofman
Albert
A
Pols
Huibert A P
HA
de Jong
Frank H
FH
Witteman
Jacqueline C M
JC
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; C491901:FAS protein, human; D019014:fas Receptor; D002097:C-Reactive Protein