title: Plasma advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and NF-κB activity are independent determinants of diastolic and pulse pressure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High levels of circulating advanced glycation end products (AGEs) can initiate chronic low-grade activation of the immune system (CLAIS) with each of these factors independently associated with cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Therefore, our objective was to characterize the relationship between serum AGEs, CLAIS and other risk factors for CV disease in normotensive non-diabetic individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), blood pressure, lipid and glucose profile in 44 non-diabetic volunteers (17 female, 27 males). Carboxymethyl-lysine (CML) was measured by ELISA as a marker for circulating AGEs and NF-κB p65 activity as an inflammatory marker by DNA-binding in peripheral blood mononuclear cells lysates (PBMC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma CML concentrations were related to diastolic blood pressure (r=-0.51, p<0.01) independently of age, sex, BMI and WHR (p<0.05). Diastolic blood pressure was also related to NF-κB activity in PBMC (r=0.47, p<0.01) before and after adjustment for age, sex, BMI and WHR (p<0.05). Plasma CML concentrations were related to the pulse pressure before (r=0.42; p<0.05) and after adjustment for age, sex, BMI and waist (p<0.05). Neither CML nor NF-κB activity were related to systolic blood pressure (both p=ns). Plasma CML concentrations were not associated with plasma lipid or glucose concentrations (all p=ns).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma AGE levels and NF-κB activity in PBMC were independent determinants of diastolic and pulse pressure in healthy normotensive individuals. This association suggests a role for AGEs in the etiology of hypertension, possibly via the initiation of CLAIS and aortic stiffening.
authors.forename: Karly C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Sourris
authors.forename: Jasmine G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.forename: Sonia L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Dougherty
authors.forename: Vibhasha
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chand
authors.forename: Nora E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Straznicky
authors.forename: Markus P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Schlaich
authors.forename: Mariee T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Grima
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Bronwyn A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Kingwell
authors.forename: Maximilian P J
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: de Courten
authors.forename: Josephine M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Forbes
authors.forename: Barbora
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Courten
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008239:Lysine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000378:metabolism*; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D008055:Lipids; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; C048496:N(6)-carboxymethyllysine; D008239:Lysine