Increased serum myeloid-related protein 8/14 level is associated with atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic patients

Abstract

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Myeloid-related protein 8/14 (MRP8/14) is a stable heterodimer formed by two different calcium-binding proteins (MRP8 and MRP14). Studies have identified that MRP8/14 regulates vascular inflammation and serves as a novel marker of acute coronary syndrome. In this study, we evaluated the correlation between serum levels of MRP8/14, hsCRP, endogenous secretory receptor for advanced glycation end-products (esRAGE) and the occurrence of coronary artery disease (CAD), or carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) when CAD was not yet developed in diabetic patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Serum levels of MRP8/14, esRAGE and hsCRP were measured in 375 diabetic patients. Then the results of those who had CAD were compared against who had not. Also, we investigated the associations between above-mentioned indicators and IMT of subjects without CAD in both diabetic group and non-diabetic one.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Serum MRP8/14 was significantly higher in CAD than in non-CAD group (9.7 ± 3.6 ug/ml vs. 8.2 ± 3.0 ug/ml, <it>P </it>< 0.001). It was associated with severity of CAD (<it>r </it>= 0.16, <it>P </it>= 0.026). In non-CAD group, MRP8/14 was associated with IMT in patients with (<it>r </it>= 0.30, <it>P </it>< 0.001) or without diabetes (<it>r </it>= 0.26, <it>P </it>= 0.015). The areas under the curves of receiver operating characteristic for CAD were 0.63 (95% CI 0.57-0.68) for MRP8/14, 0.76 (95% CI 0.71-0.81) for hsCRP and 0.62 (95% CI 0.56 -0.67) for esRAGE.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In summary, we report that diabetic patients with CAD had elevated plasma MRP8/14 levels which were also positively correlated with the severity of CAD and carotid IMT in patients without clinically overt CAD.</p