Donald W. Reynolds Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between circulating soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) and coronary atherosclerosis. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Using data from the Dallas Heart Study, a probability-based population sample, the association between plasma levels of sRAGE and coronary artery calcium (CAC) was assessed among 2,571 subjects with complete imaging and sRAGE data. RESULTS: An inverse graded association was observed between sRAGE quartiles and CAC, with CAC prevalence of 28.5% in quartile 1 compared with 15.7% in quartile 4 (P < 0.0001). After multivariable adjustment, the associations between sRAGE levels in the first and second quartiles (versus fourth quartile) and CAC remained statistically significant (adjusted odds ratio 1.71 [95% CI 1.2-2.4] and 1.5 [1.0-2.1], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: sRAGE is a novel biomarker that is inversely associated with coronary atherosclerosis. The role of sRAGE in the pathobiology of atherosclerosis and its potential prognostic and therapeutic implications warrant further investigation.