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Thromb Haemost 2004; 91(04): 790-794
DOI: 10.1160/TH03-08-0572
Cell Signaling and Vessel Remodeling
Schattauer GmbH

Matrix Gla protein is associated with coronary artery calcification as assessed by electron-beam computed tomography

Shuichi Jono
1   Department of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
,
Yuji Ikari
2   Division of Cardiology, Mitsui Memorial Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
,
Cees Vermeer
3   Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands
,
Paul Dissel
3   Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands
,
Kotaro Hasegawa
4   Division of Cardiology, Ageo Central General Hospital, Saitama, Japan
,
Atsushi Shioi
1   Department of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
,
Hiromichi Taniwaki
1   Department of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
,
Akane Kizu
1   Department of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
,
Yoshiki Nishizawa
1   Department of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
,
Shigeru Saito
5   Division of Cardiology and Catheterization Laboratories, Heart Center of Shonan Kamakura General Hospital, Kamakura, Japan
› Author AffiliationsGrant support: This work was supported in part by a grant-in-aid for Scientific Research from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (12671121) and by grant 2001 B033 of the Netherlands Heart Foundation.
Further Information

Publication History

Received 08 August 2003

Accepted after revision 12 January 2004

Publication Date:
06 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is an extracellular matrix protein with wide tissue distribution. It has been demonstrated that the expression of MGP is detected not only in the normal blood vessels but also calcified atherosclerotic plaques, and that MGP deficient mice develop extensive arterial calcification. MGP is thought to be a regulator of vascular calcification. A recent clinical study demonstrates the association between polymorphisms of the MGP gene and increased risk of myocardial infarction. However, there are no reports of the relationship between serum MGP levels and coronary artery calcification (CAC). We evaluated the severity of CAC using electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT), and measured serum MGP levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 115 subjects with suspected coronary artery disease. CAC scores were correlated with traditional risk factors, such as age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and smoking. The serum MGP levels were lower in patients with CAC than in those without CAC (p<0.001). As the severity of CAC increased, there was a significant decrease in serum MGP levels. Serum MGP levels (U/L) were 116.7 ± 20.3, 104.9 ± 19.2, 95.2 ± 15.2 and 82.2 ± 19.7, (medians 115.5, 105.0, 94.8, and 81.9) for the subjects with normal (CAC score=0), mild (CAC score=1 to 99), moderate (CAC score=100 to 400), and severe (CAC score >400) coronary calcification, respectively. We found that serum MGP levels are inversely correlated with the severity of CAC. These data suggest a possible role for MGP in the development of vascular calcification.

Keywords

Matrix Gla protein - coronary artery calcification - atherosclerosis - vitamin K-dependent factors
 

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