Open AccessReceptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-κB Ligand (RANKL) and Its Relationship to Coronary Atherosclerosis in HIV Patients
Author(s) -
Jonathan Hwang,
Jiann-Wu Wei,
Suhny Abbara,
Steven Grinspoon,
Janet Lo
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1944-7884
pISSN - 1525-4135
DOI - 10.1097/qai.0b013e31826a6c16
Subject(s) - rankl , activator (genetics) , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , nuclear receptor , receptor , medicine , risk factor , transcription factor , immunology , biology , genetics , gene
HIV-infected individuals have an increased prevalence of coronary artery disease. Receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin have been postulated as mediators of vascular calcification. 78 HIV-infected men and 32 healthy controls without history of coronary artery disease were prospectively recruited to undergo cardiac computed tomography and computed tomography angiography to assess coronary artery calcium and plaque burden. Soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand was lower in HIV-infected individuals than controls [2.52 (1.08-3.98) vs. 3.33 (2.44-4.64) pg/mL, P = 0.01, median (IQR) respectively]. Soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand was negatively associated with the number of coronary segments with plaque (Spearman ρ = -0.41, P < 0.001) and Agatston calcium score (ρ = -0.30, P < 0.01) in HIV-infected individuals even after adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors.