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Relationship between soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE), body composition and fat distribution in healthy women

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Abstract

Purpose

Soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) is a decoy receptor which sequesters RAGE ligands and acts as a cytoprotective agent. To date, it is unclear whether the lower sRAGE levels observed in obesity are a marker of increased overall adiposity or reflect increases in particular fat depots. Therefore, we evaluated in healthy women the relationship among sRAGE and indicators of adiposity, including abdominal visceral (VAT) and epicardial visceral (EAT) adipose tissues, to explore the potential role of sRAGE as an earlier biomarker of cardiometabolic risk.

Methods

Plasma sRAGE levels were quantified by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 47 healthy women. Total fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass were estimated with bioimpedance analysis. Anthropometric measures and biochemical data were recorded. Subcutaneous adipose tissue, VAT and EAT volumes were measured by magnetic resonance imaging.

Results

Obese women had lower sRAGE levels compared to normal-weight women. sRAGE levels were also lower in women with a waist circumference (WC) larger than 80 cm. Correlation analyses indicated an inverse association of sRAGE with body mass index and FM. Concerning adipose tissue distribution, sRAGE inversely correlated with WC, EAT and VAT depots. In a multiple stepwise regression analysis, performed to emphasize the role of fat distribution, EAT volume was the only predictor of sRAGE.

Conclusions

Lower sRAGE levels reflect accumulation of visceral fat mainly at the epicardial level and are present in advance of metabolic complications in adult women. sRAGE quantification might be an early marker of cardiometabolic risk.

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Abbreviations

AGE:

Advanced glycation end products

BMI:

Body mass index

CAD:

Coronary artery disease

EAT:

Epicardial adipose tissue

HOMA-IR:

Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance

LAP:

Lipid accumulation product

RAGE:

Receptor for advanced glycation end products

sRAGE:

Soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products

SAT:

Subcutaneous adipose tissue

VAT:

Visceral adipose tissue

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Elena Costa, I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico San Donato, Milan, Italy, for clinical chemistry data and Prof. Simona Villani, Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy, for biostatistical support. The study was supported by funds from Italian Ministry for Health “Ricerca Corrente” IRCCS Policlinico San Donato.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 31, 20133, Milan, Italy

    Elena Dozio, Elena Vianello, Francesco Sardanelli & Massimiliano M. Corsi Romanelli

  2. Diabetology and Metabolic Disease Unit, I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico San Donato, Via R. Morandi 30, 20097, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy

    Silvia Briganti, Federica Ermetici, Lelio Morricone & Alexis E. Malavazos

  3. Unit of Radiology, I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico San Donato, Via R. Morandi 30, 20097, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy

    Alessandra Delnevo, Francesco Secchi & Francesco Sardanelli

  4. Service of Laboratory Medicine 1- Clinical Pathology, I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico San Donato, Via R. Morandi 30, 20097, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy

    Massimiliano M. Corsi Romanelli

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  1. Elena Dozio
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  2. Silvia Briganti
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  3. Alessandra Delnevo
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  4. Elena Vianello
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  5. Federica Ermetici
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  7. Francesco Sardanelli
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  9. Alexis E. Malavazos
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  10. Massimiliano M. Corsi Romanelli
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Correspondence to Elena Dozio.

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Dozio, E., Briganti, S., Delnevo, A. et al. Relationship between soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE), body composition and fat distribution in healthy women. Eur J Nutr 56, 2557–2564 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-016-1291-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-016-1291-0

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