title: Is zinc-α2-glycoprotein a cardiovascular protective factor for patients undergoing hemodialysis?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Zinc-α2-glycoprotein (ZAG) is a lipid mobilizing factor. Its anti-inflammatory action and expression pattern suggest that ZAG could act by protecting against the obesity-associated disorders. In hemodialysis (HD) patients, ZAG levels were described to be elevated but its effects on markers of inflammation and LDL oxidation are still unclear. We investigated the relationship between ZAG and markers of systemic inflammation and LDL atherogenic modification profile in HD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three patients regularly on HD were studied and compared to 20 healthy subjects. Plasma ZAG, adiponectin, electronegative LDL [LDL(-)], an atherosclerotic negatively charged LDL subfraction, and anti-LDL(-) autoantibodies levels were measured by ELISA. Markers of inflammation and atherogenic cell recruitment (TNF-α, interleukin-6, VCAM-1, ICAM-1, MCP-1 and PAI-1) were also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inflammatory markers and atherogenic cell recruitment were higher in HD patients when compared to healthy subjects. ZAG levels were also higher in HD patients (151.5 ± 50.1 mg/l vs 54.6 ± 23.0 mg/l; p<0.0001) and its levels were negatively correlated with TNF-α (r=-0.39; p=0.001) and VCAM-1 (r=-0.52; p<0.0001) and, positively correlated with anti-LDL(-) autoantibodies (r=0.38; p=0.016). On multivariate analyses, plasma ZAG levels were independently associated with VCAM-1 (p=0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ZAG is inversely associated with markers of pro-atherogenic factors linked to systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. Thus, this adipokine may constitute a novel marker of a favorable metabolic profile regarding cardiovascular risk factors in HD population.
authors.affiliation: Pós-graduação em Ciências Médicas, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil. vivianeoleal@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Viviane O
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.forename: Julie C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lobo
authors.forename: Milena B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Stockler-Pinto
authors.forename: Najla E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Farage
authors.forename: Dulcinéia S P
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Abdalla
authors.forename: Maurilo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mafra
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D000090203:Zn-Alpha-2-Glycoprotein
chemical_list: D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins; D000090203:Zn-Alpha-2-Glycoprotein