title: Increased levels of the calcification marker matrix Gla Protein and the inflammatory markers YKL-40 and CRP in patients with type 2 diabetes and ischemic heart disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Low grade inflammation is of pathogenic importance in atherosclerosis and in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Matrix GLA protein (MGP), an inhibitor of medial calcification of arteries, is increased in patients with atherosclerosis. In the present study levels of markers of calcification (MGP) and inflammation (YKL-40, hsCRP) were evaluated in patients with T2 D and/or ischemic heart disease (IHD).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 1) patients with T2D (n = 45); 2) patients with IHD (n = 37); patients with both T2D and IHD (n = 20) and 4) healthy controls (n = 20). Biochemical parameters were measured in venous blood samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of MGP, YKL-40 and hsCRP were increased in patients with IHD and/or T2D (p < 0.0001) and patients with T2D and IHD had higher MGP levels (p < 0.001). In multiple linear regression analyses MGP was associated with patient category (r = 0.36, p < 0.001), and HDL-cholesterol levels (r = 0.29, p < 0.001) adjusting for the significant covariates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with T2D and/or IHD we found increased levels of plasma MGP indicative of a progressing calcification process. This process is paralleled by increased levels of YKL-40 and hsCRP, which most likely reflect the concomitant low grade inflammatory state in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine O, Center of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev, Denmark.
authors.forename: Stine B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.forename: Camilla N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Rathcke
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zerahn
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vestergaard
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D003718:Denmark; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D037102:Lectins / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000097568:Matrix Gla Protein
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D037102:Lectins; D000097568:Matrix Gla Protein; C084533:CHI3L1 protein, human