Association of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 with coronary calcification among American and Japanese men.
BACKGROUND
We have previously reported that the prevalence of coronary artery calcification (CAC) was substantially lower among Japanese than American men despite a less favorable profile of many traditional risk factors in Japanese men. To determine whether lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) levels are related to the difference in the prevalence of CAC between the two populations.


METHODS
A total of 200 men aged 40-49 years were examined: 100 residents in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and 100 residents in Kusatsu City, Shiga, Japan. Coronary calcium score (CCS) was evaluated by electron-beam tomography, Lp-PLA2 levels, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) lipoprotein subclasses, and other factors were assessed in 2001-2002.


RESULTS
Lp-PLA2 levels were higher among American than Japanese men (Mean +/- standard deviation 301.7 +/- 82.6 versus 275.9 +/- 104.7 ng/mL, respectively, p=0.06). Among all Japanese men and those with low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol > or =130 mg/dL, there was an inverse association of the prevalence of CCS>0 with the tertile groups of Lp-PLA2 levels (p=0.08 and p=0.03, respectively). American men did not have any association between CCS>0 with the tertile groups of Lp-PLA2 (p=0.62). Although Lp-PLA2 among both populations correlated positively with LDL and total cholesterol, American and Japanese men had different correlations with NMR lipoprotein subclasses. Reported high odds ratio for CCS>0 among American compared to Japanese men was not reduced after adjusting for Lp-PLA2 levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Lp-PLA2 may have different mechanisms of action among American and Japanese men. Lp-PLA2 levels can not explain the observed CAC differences between the two populations.
El-Saed
Aiman
A
Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. amest30@pitt.edu
Sekikawa
Akira
A
Zaky
Riad Wahid
RW
Kadowaki
Takashi
T
Takamiya
Tomoko
T
Okamura
Tomonori
T
Edmundowicz
Daniel
D
Kita
Yoshikuni
Y
Kuller
Lewis H
LH
Ueshima
Hirotsugu
H
D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000208:ethnology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000201:enzymology / Q000208:ethnology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014054:Tomography; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People
D008074:Lipoproteins; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase