title: Association of plasma pentraxin 3 with arterial stiffness in overweight and obese individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity and increased arterial stiffness are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The degree of arterial stiffness in obese individuals is greater than that in normal-weight subjects. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is mainly produced by vascular tissues and exerts a cardioprotective effect. However, the relationship between PTX3 and arterial stiffness in obese individuals has not yet been clarified. In this study, we examined the relationships between obesity, arterial stiffness, and PTX3 levels in 282 subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  All participants were classified as normal weight, overweight, or obese on the basis of their body mass index. We measured the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV; an index of arterial stiffness) and plasma PTX3 concentrations in all subjects. Additionally, the carotid-femoral PWV (cfPWV) was measured in 173 subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that baPWV and cfPWV in overweight and obese subjects were significantly higher than those in normal-weight subjects. Plasma PTX3 concentrations in normal-weight subjects were significantly higher than those in overweight and obese subjects. Moreover, PTX3 had a significant negative correlation with baPWV. However, stepwise multivariable linear regression analysis did not indicate any associations between these parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arterial stiffness is increased in overweight and obese individuals. The increase in arterial stiffness may, at least in part, be associated with an obesity-related reduction in plasma PTX3 concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Asako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miyaki
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Youngju
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Nobuhiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akazawa
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eto
authors.forename: Kiyoji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Ryuichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ajisaka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood*; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000378:metabolism*; D059289:Vascular Stiffness; D000099153:Pentraxins
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D000099153:Pentraxins
keywords: arterial stiffness; blood pressure; cardiovascular disease cardiovascular protection; hypertension; obesity; pentraxin 3.