title: Associations between γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and biomarkers of atherosclerosis: the Multi-ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate associations between total serum γ-glutamyltransferase activity (GGT) and biomarkers of arteriosclerosis in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), including 6783 participants from four ethnic subgroups, i.e., White, Chinese, Black and Hispanic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Associations between fasting total serum GGT activity and oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDL), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) were assessed. Following evaluation of linear trends between GGT and biomarkers of interest, multivariable linear regression models were serially adjusted for age, gender, site, ethnicity (M1); M1+lifestyle variables (M2); M2+traditional cardiovascular risk factors plus medications (M3); and M3+metabolic status (M4). Interactions were evaluated between GGT and age and ethnicity in all models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Linear trends were positive and significant between GGT and oxLDL, IL-6, CRP and sICAM-1 in crude models, and trends remained significant in all ethnic subgroups for CRP (p<0.0001) and sICAM-1 (p<0.001), and for IL-6 except in the Chinese. Trends between GGT and oxLDL were significant in the entire cohort and the White subgroup (p<0.0001), but not in other ethnic subgroups. Multivariable models demonstrated continuous strong, positive associations between GGT and CRP, IL-6 and sICAM-1. Associations between GGT and oxLDL were attenuated upon adjustment for LDL-C and other traditional risk factors. All models were attenuated with adjustment for metabolic status. No age interactions were evident.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings support the hypothesis that total serum GGT activity represents the impact of metabolic disease on vascular injury and atherosclerosis.
authors: Bastyr University California, 4106 Sorrento Valley Blvd., San Diego, CA 92121, USA; University of Washington, USA. Electronic address: rbradley@bastyr.edu.
authors: Ryan D
authors: RD
authors: Bradley
authors: University of Washington, USA.
authors: Annette L
authors: AL
authors: Fitzpatrick
authors: University of Minnesota, USA.
authors: David R
authors: DR
authors: Jacobs
authors: Kyungpook National University, Republic of South Korea.
authors: Duk-Hee
authors: DH
authors: Lee
authors: University of Vermont, USA.
authors: Nancy
authors: N
authors: Swords Jenny
authors: Wake Forest University, USA.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Herrington
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005006:Ethnicity; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008019:Life Style; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012307:Risk Factors; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D007328:Insulin; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase
keywords: CRP; Endothelial dysfunction; GGT; Oxidative stress; Oxidized LDL; sICAM