title: A novel biomarker of coronary atherosclerosis: serum DKK1 concentration correlates with coronary artery calcification and atherosclerotic plaques.
abstract: DKK1 modulates Wnt signaling, which is involved in the atherosclerosis. However, no data exist regarding the usefulness of measuring serum DKK1 concentration in predicting coronary atherosclerosis. A total of 270 consecutive patients (62.8 ± 11.2 yr; 70% male) were included. A contrast-enhanced 64-slice coronary MDCT was performed to identify the presence of atherosclerotic plaques. Agatston calcium scores (CS) were calculated to quantify the coronary artery calcification (CAC). DKK1 concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. For each subsequent DKK1 quartile, there was a significant increase in CAC (P = 0.004) and the number of segments with coronary atherosclerosis (P < 0.001). In addition, DKK1 concentration was significantly higher in patients with atherosclerotic plaques, regardless of plaque composition (P = 0.01). Multivariate analysis identified DKK1 as an independent risk factor for the presence of coronary atherosclerotic plaque. The adjusted odds ratio for coronary atherosclerotic plaque was 4.88 (95% CI, 1.67 to 14.25) for highest versus lowest quartile of the DKK1 levels. Furthermore, patients with DKK1 concentrations ≥ 68.6 pg/mL demonstrated coronary atherosclerotic plaques even when they had low CS. Serum DKK1 concentrations correlate with the coronary atherosclerosis and play an independent role in predicting the presence of coronary atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang-Il
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyoung Un
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Eun Ju
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Sang Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Young-Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Tae-Jin
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Youn
authors.forename: Goo-Yeong
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: In-Ho
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Junghan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Dong-Ju
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Cheol-Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C501126:DKK1 protein, human; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins