Could receptors for advanced glycation end products be considered cardiovascular risk markers in obese children?

Early development of increased cardiovascular risk in obese children and the possible related cardiovascular diseases into adulthood have been shown; however, the underling pathogenetic mechanisms implicated are not yet completely defined. Receptors for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) pathway play a pivotal role in the genesis of abnormality of arterial wall. However, whether obese prepubertal children present impaired levels of endogenous and soluble secretory receptor for advanced glycation end products (esRAGE/sRAGE) and whether an association exists between RAGE levels and carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) are not yet evaluated in this age group. We note that esRAGE and sRAGE were significantly lower in obese children than controls and were independently related to cIMT. Our findings lead to the hypothesis that RAGE system seems to be related to the development of atherosclerosis even in obese prepubertal children.