title: Soluble TWEAK levels predict the presence of carotid atherosclerotic plaques in subjects free from clinical cardiovascular diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Reduced soluble tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK) levels have been related with cardiovascular disease. However, there are no data on the relationship between sTWEAK and atherosclerotic burden in subjects with or without cardiovascular risk factors but free from clinical disease. We have analyzed the association between circulating sTWEAK levels and the presence of carotid and/or femoral atherosclerotic plaques in subjects without known vascular disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted in 448 subjects free from clinical CVD. B-mode ultrasound was performed to detect the presence of carotid and/or femoral atherosclerotic plaques. sTWEAK concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  sTWEAK serum levels were reduced in parallel with an increment in cardiovascular risk factors. sTWEAK concentrations were independently and negatively associated with carotid intima/media thickness. Subjects with atherosclerotic plaques showed a reduction in sTWEAK levels [808 (645-963) vs 993 (830-1278); p < 0.001]. A gradual decrease in sTWEAK levels was observed as the number of atherosclerotic plaques increased in our studied population. When we analyzed sTWEAK levels according to the vascular territory affected, we observed that sTWEAK concentrations were only diminished in subjects with carotid atherosclerotic plaques but not in those with femoral plaques. Following adjustment for various confounders, the OR for presenting carotid atherosclerotic plaque in subjects in lower vs higher tertile of sTWEAK levels was 8.09 [4.30-15.23; median (IQR); p < 0.001].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diminished sTWEAK concentrations were significantly and independently associated with the presence of carotid atherosclerotic plaques in asymptomatic subjects.
authors: Vascular Research Lab, IIS- Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Valvanera
authors: V
authors: Fernández-Laso
authors: Vascular Research Lab, IIS- Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Sastre
authors: Unit for Detection and Treatment of Atherothrombotic Diseases, Experimental Nephrology Laboratory, Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital, IRBLLEIDA, Lleida, Spain.
authors: Jose M
authors: JM
authors: Valdivielso
authors: Unit for Detection and Treatment of Atherothrombotic Diseases, Experimental Nephrology Laboratory, Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital, IRBLLEIDA, Lleida, Spain.
authors: Elvira
authors: E
authors: Fernández
authors: Vascular Research Lab, IIS- Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Jose L
authors: JL
authors: Martín-Ventura
authors: Vascular Research Lab, IIS- Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Jesús
authors: J
authors: Egido
authors: Vascular Research Lab, IIS- Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: lblanco@fjd.es.
authors: Luis M
authors: LM
authors: Blanco-Colio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D000074049:Cytokine TWEAK; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000074049:Cytokine TWEAK; C109743:TNFSF12 protein, human; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors
keywords: Asymptomatic subjects; Atherosclerosis; Biomarker; Carotid; sTWEAK