title: Serum adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein is associated independently with vascular inflammation: analysis with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The inflammatory status of atherosclerotic lesions is a major factor triggering acute cardiovascular events. Growing evidence has shown that adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) has an important role in the development of atherosclerosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to determine the association between circulating A-FABP levels with vascular inflammation as measured using [(18)F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET), which is a novel imaging technique for noninvasive measurement of atherosclerotic inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-seven men without previously diagnosed cardiovascular disease or diabetes participated in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured the serum A-FABP, adiponectin, and leptin levels as well as other cardiovascular risk factors. Vascular inflammation in the carotid arterial wall, as indicated by the target to background ratio (TBR), was analyzed using FDG-PET.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The circulating A-FABP and leptin levels had positive correlations with maximum TBR values (r = 0.38, P < 0.001; and r = 0.28, P = 0.010, respectively), whereas the adiponectin levels had a negative correlation (r = -0.31, P = 0.004). The maximum TBR levels exhibited an additive linear increment according to the rise in tertiles of the A-FABP levels in subjects with and without metabolic syndrome. Multiple regression analysis showed that serum A-FABP levels were independently associated with maximum TBR after adjustment for other cardiovascular risk factors (P = 0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Circulating A-FABP, adiponectin, and leptin levels were shown to be associated with vascular inflammation, as measured using FDG-PET. Specifically, the A-FABP level was an independent risk factor for vascular inflammation in Korean men without cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Korea University College of Medicine, Guro-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul 152-703, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Sungeun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Man Sik
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hae Yoon
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sae Jeong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ji A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Sin Gon
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Nan Hee
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sei Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Baik
authors.forename: Dong Seop
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Kyung Mook
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C493410:FABP4 protein, human; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D020738:Leptin; D008055:Lipids; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18