title: Polymorphism in the human matrix Gla protein gene is associated with the progression of vascular calcification in maintenance hemodialysis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is one of the important proteins inhibiting vascular calcification (VC). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in the promoter and coding regions of the MGP gene affect the transcriptional activity. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the SNPs and progression of VC in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective, longitudinal cohort study of 134 MHD patients whose VC could be followed by multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) examinations. MGP-SNPs (T-138C, rs1800802 and G-7A, rs1800801) were determined. The progression speed of VC was examined by plotting the abdominal aortic calcium volume scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The progression speed of VC of patients with the CC genotype of T-138C was significantly slower than that of patients with the CT or TT genotype. Multiple regression analysis showed that CT/TT genotype, greater age at the beginning of MHD, male sex, high levels of calcium × phosphate, low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low levels of ferritin and non-use of angiotensin II receptor blockers were significantly associated with progression of VC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MGP-138CC genotype may be associated with slower progression of VC in MHD patients. The genotype of the MGP gene will be a genomic biomarker that is predictive of VC progression.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Nephrology, Institute of Health Biosciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: Hideharu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tominaga
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kishi
authors.forename: Motokazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.forename: Kojiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsuchida
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Minakuchi
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Doi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics*; D000097568:Matrix Gla Protein
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D000097568:Matrix Gla Protein