title: Extracellular matrix biomarker, fibulin-1 and its association with soluble uPAR in a bi-ethnic South African population: the SAfrEIC study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fibulin-1 and soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) emerged as mediators in the development of sclerotic disease. SuPAR along with C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin delineate inflammatory processes associated with extracellular matrix turnover in atherosclerosis. We explored the independent relationship of fibulin-1 with these inflammatory markers in a bi-ethnic South African population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 290 Africans (men: n=130 and women: n=160) and 343 sex- and age-matched Caucasians (men: n=160 and women: n=183). Serum fibulin-1, suPAR, CRP and albumin levels were measured along with conventional cardiovascular and metabolic variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both single and age-adjusted regression analyses, fibulin-1 correlated with both suPAR and albumin in African men and with suPAR in Caucasian men. These findings were absent in women. In multivariate regression analysis, these associations were confirmed in African men (R(2)=0.22; β=0.329; p<0.001) and Caucasian men (R(2)=0.14; β=0.234; p=0.008). Fibulin-1 independently associated positively with suPAR in all men, but inversely with albumin in African men only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results are indicating the presence of potential subclinical inflammation (suPAR) within the extracellular matrix of endothelial tissue, contributing to the potential onset of cardiac fibrosis or vascular sclerosis among these South African men with lower albumin levels.
authors.affiliation: Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
authors.forename: Christine S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: du Plooy
authors.affiliation: Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
authors.forename: Ruan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kruger
authors.affiliation: Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. Electronic address: hugo.huisman@nwu.ac.za.
authors.forename: Hugo W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Huisman
authors.affiliation: Centre for Individualized Medicine (CIMA); Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lars M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Centre 136, Copenhagen University, Hvidovre Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eugen-Olsen
authors.affiliation: Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
authors.forename: Aletta E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Schutte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D044383:Black People; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator / Q000097:blood*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D013019:South Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D012709:Serum Albumin; C060820:fibulin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: African; Cardiac fibrosis; Caucasian; Fibulin-1; Inflammation; Soluble Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Receptor.