title: Association of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 with coronary calcification among American and Japanese men.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. amest30@pitt.edu
authors: Aiman
authors: A
authors: El-Saed
authors: Akira
authors: A
authors: Sekikawa
authors: Riad Wahid
authors: RW
authors: Zaky
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Kadowaki
authors: Tomoko
authors: T
authors: Takamiya
authors: Tomonori
authors: T
authors: Okamura
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Edmundowicz
authors: Yoshikuni
authors: Y
authors: Kita
authors: Lewis H
authors: LH
authors: Kuller
authors: Hirotsugu
authors: H
authors: Ueshima
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D008074:Lipoproteins; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase