Vik Anders, Mathiesen Ellisiv B, Notø Ann-Trude W, Sveinbjørnsson Baldur, Brox Jan, Hansen John-Bjarne
Center for Atherothrombotic Research in Tromsø (CART), Department of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway.
Atherosclerosis. 2007 Mar;191(1):128-34. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2006.03.002. Epub 2006 Apr 18.
Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a member of the tumour necrosis factor superfamily involved in the regulation of bone metabolism and vascular calcification. High serum values of OPG are associated with cardiovascular disease in humans. The purpose was to investigate serum OPG levels in subclinical carotid atherosclerosis and the relation between OPG levels and plaque morphology. OPG levels were compared in 29 persons with echogenic carotid plaques, 30 persons with echolucent plaques and 41 persons without carotid plaques, all recruited from a population health study. Computerized assessment of plaque echogenicity was done by use of the gray scale median (GSM). Participants with echogenic carotid plaques had lower serum OPG level (1.23 ng/ml; 1.02-1.48) (geometric mean; 95% CI) than persons with echolucent plaques (1.76 ng/ml; 1.46-2.14) and those without plaques (1.89 ng/ml; 1.60-2.21). OPG and PTH were independently related to GSM. A significant trend for decrease in GSM across quartiles of OPG was found (p=0.003) which remained significant even after adjustment for PTH and smoking. The present study demonstrates lower serum OPG levels in persons with subclinical echogenic carotid plaques and identified an inverse relation between serum OPG and plaque echogenicity. The findings support the concept that OPG may play an important role in arterial calcification.
骨保护素（OPG）是肿瘤坏死因子超家族的成员，参与骨代谢和血管钙化的调节。人类血清中高水平的OPG与心血管疾病相关。本研究旨在调查亚临床颈动脉粥样硬化患者的血清OPG水平，以及OPG水平与斑块形态之间的关系。从一项人群健康研究中招募了29例有强回声颈动脉斑块的患者、30例有低回声斑块的患者和41例无颈动脉斑块的患者，并比较他们的OPG水平。通过使用灰度中位数（GSM）对斑块回声进行计算机评估。有强回声颈动脉斑块的参与者血清OPG水平（几何平均数为1.23 ng/ml；95%置信区间为1.02 - 1.48）低于有低回声斑块的患者（1.76 ng/ml；1.46 - 2.14）和无斑块的患者（1.89 ng/ml；1.60 - 2.21）。OPG和甲状旁腺激素（PTH）与GSM独立相关。在OPG的四分位数中发现GSM有显著下降趋势（p = 0.003），即使在对PTH和吸烟进行校正后，该趋势仍具有显著性。本研究表明，有亚临床强回声颈动脉斑块的患者血清OPG水平较低，并确定了血清OPG与斑块回声之间呈负相关。这些发现支持了OPG可能在动脉钙化中起重要作用的观点。
