title: Anticalcifying nanoparticle antibody titer is an independent risk factor for coronary artery calcification.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Calcium phosphate deposition is present even in the early phases of the atherosclerotic plaque formation. Calcifying nanoparticles (CNPs), previously known as nanobacteria, have emerged as a potential causative agent for pathological calcification in human vasculature. This study investigates the relationship between the anti-CNPs antibody titers and the extent of coronary calcification.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 197 consecutive patients undergoing multidetector computed tomography were enrolled in this study. The patients with coronary artery calcification (CAC; n=103) were included in the CAC group, and those without calcification (n=94) were determined as controls. The commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits were used to detect IgG antibodies against CNPs in serum samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean titers of anti-CNPs antibodies were higher in individuals with CAC than in the control group (0.4 ± 0.4 vs. 0.19 ± 0.21U; P<0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that high anti-CNPs antibody levels were an independent correlate of CAC in addition to conventional risk factors such as age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. When the CAC scores were subcategorized: score 0, 1-100, 101-400, and more than 400, they still correlated significantly with the anti-CNPs antibody, especially in the group having CAC scores greater than 400 (P<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anti-CNPs antibodies are an independent risk factor for CAC and the antibody levels correlate with CAC scores.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Turkey. cansintulunay@gmail.com
authors.forename: Cansin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tulunay Kaya
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sinan Ertas
authors.forename: Taner
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hasan
authors.forename: Basar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Candemir
authors.forename: Cagdas
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ozdol
authors.forename: Ozay
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Arikan Akan
authors.forename: Tolga
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kocum
authors.forename: Irem
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dincer
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Atmaca
authors.forename: Cenk
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conkbayır
authors.forename: Cetin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Erol
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D059587:Calcifying Nanoparticles / Q000276:immunology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D059587:Calcifying Nanoparticles