title: Fetuin-A is Associated to Serum Calcium and AHSG T256S Genotype but Not to Coronary Artery Calcification.
abstract: Vascular calcification has been recently associated to an increased cardiovascular risk and mortality. In few studies, Fetuin-A showed an association to coronary artery calcification (CAC), although the physiopathological mechanism underlying this association has not been fully established yet. Seventy-four patients with one or more cardiovascular risk factor and asymptomatic for coronary vasculopathy were included in the study. CAC was evaluated by Agatston score. Serum Fetuin-A levels were determined by ELISA. Molecular analysis of AHSG T256S gene variant (rs4918) was performed by PCR-RFLP. Serum Fetuin-A was correlated to serum calcium (r = 0,321; P = 0,018), but not to serum phosphorous. Multivariate linear regression analysis confirmed this association and showed that calcium and AHSG genotype were independent predictors of Fetuin-A (P = 0.037, P = 0.014, respectively). In particular, subjects carrying the SS genotype had lower levels of Fetuin-A and calcium (P = 0.037 and P = 0.038, respectively). When we compare subjects with CAC 0-10 with subjects with CAC > 10, we found that only age and male gender (P < 0.001, P = 0.035, respectively), but not Fetuin-A, were associated to CAC. Fetuin-A is not associated to CAC in subjects with low cardiovascular risk profile and asymptomatic for coronary vasculopathy, suggesting that in this setting Fetuin-A, although correlated to serum levels of calcium, could be not involved in mineral deposition on coronary vessels.
authors.affiliation: Sezione Biochimica Clinica e Medicina Molecolare Clinica, Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bellia
authors.affiliation: Sezione Biochimica Clinica e Medicina Molecolare Clinica, Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Agnello
authors.affiliation: Sezione Biochimica Clinica e Medicina Molecolare Clinica, Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Bruna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lo Sasso
authors.affiliation: Sezione Biochimica Clinica e Medicina Molecolare Clinica, Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milano
authors.affiliation: Sezione Biochimica Clinica e Medicina Molecolare Clinica, Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bivona
authors.affiliation: Sezione Biochimica Clinica e Medicina Molecolare Clinica, Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scazzone
authors.affiliation: Sezione Biochimica Clinica e Medicina Molecolare Clinica, Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pivetti
authors.affiliation: Cattedra e Divisione di Cardiologia, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Novo
authors.affiliation: Cattedra e Divisione di Cardiologia, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Palermo
authors.affiliation: Cattedra e Divisione di Cardiologia, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bonomo
authors.affiliation: Sezione di Scienze Radiologiche, Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Ludovico
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: La Grutta
authors.affiliation: Sezione di Scienze Radiologiche, Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Midiri
authors.affiliation: Cattedra e Divisione di Cardiologia, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Novo
authors.affiliation: Sezione Biochimica Clinica e Medicina Molecolare Clinica, Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy. marcello.ciaccio@unipa.it.|UOC Medicina di Laboratorio - CoreLab, AOUP "P. Giaccone", Palermo, Italy. marcello.ciaccio@unipa.it.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciaccio
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D054458:Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C556354:AHSG protein, human; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein; D002118:Calcium
keywords: AHSG; Coronary artery calcification; Coronary artery disease; Fetuin-A; Serum calcium