Increased Rho kinase activity in a Taiwanese population with metabolic syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine whether Rho kinase (ROCK) activity is increased in a Taiwanese population with metabolic syndrome (MetS).


BACKGROUND
Recent studies suggest that ROCK may be involved in the pathogenesis of MetS, but clinical studies linking ROCK with MetS are lacking.


METHODS
We studied 40 Taiwanese subjects (60% men, mean age 55.5 +/- 5.6 years) who were diagnosed with MetS with National Cholesterol Educational Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria and 40 age- and gender-matched control subjects. Subject demographics were recorded, and blood samples were obtained.


RESULTS
Compared with control subjects, ROCK activity, as determined by phosphorylation of myosin binding subunit (MBS) in leukocytes, was greater in MetS subjects (mean phospho-MBS/MBS ratio 0.46 vs. 0.35, p = 0.002). A cutoff value for ROCK activity of 0.39 predicted the presence of MetS with specificity and sensitivity rates of 70%. Plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was greater (5.5 mg/l, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.1 to 7.2 mg/l vs. 2.8 mg/l, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.9 mg/l, p = 0.01) and adiponectin was lower (4.9 microg/ml, 95% CI 3.2 to 6.1 microg/ml vs. 5.9 microg/ml, 95% CI 4.2 to 7.5 microg/ml, p = 0.01) in MetS subjects compared with control subjects, but plasma levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were not different (p > 0.05 for both). Body mass index, waist circumference, fasting glucose, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and triglyceride levels were associated with increased levels of ROCK activity. The risk of increased ROCK activity increased with the number of MetS components (p for trend <0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Rho kinase activity is increased in Taiwanese subjects with MetS and is associated with each component of MetS and markers of inflammation. These findings suggest that ROCK activity may be a novel serological marker of MetS.
Liu
Ping-Yen
PY
Division of Cardiology, Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Cardiovascular Research Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Vascular Medicine Research Unit, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Chen
Jyh-Hong
JH
Division of Cardiology, Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Cardiovascular Research Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Lin
Li-Jen
LJ
Division of Cardiology, Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Cardiovascular Research Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Liao
James K
JK
Vascular Medicine Research Unit, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.. Electronic address: jliao@rics.bwh.harvard.edu.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D044466:Asian People; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000208:ethnology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013624:Taiwan; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases
D015415:Biomarkers; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases