ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) has anti-atherogenic properties in adults, however, little is known about the relationship between sRAGE and cardiometabolic disease risk in pediatric populations. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation is to examine the relationship between sRAGE and cardiometabolic risk factors in Latino youth. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Data from 133 Latino youth (58% female; age 16.3 ± 2.8 yr) enrolled in the Arizona Insulin Resistance Registry were analyzed. Cardiometabolic syndrome was determined using a continuous risk score normalized to the population. Components included waist circumference, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), triglycerides, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and homeostatic assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). sRAGE levels were determined from fasting serum using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, sRAGE was inversely associated with waist circumference (r = -0.22, p = 0.01), MAP (r = -0.15, p = 0.09), and HOMA-IR (r = -0.29, p < 0.01) and positively associated with HDL-c (r = 0.19, p < 0.05). In multiple regression analysis with age, sex, and BMI, sRAGE remained an independent predictor of cardiometabolic syndrome risk score (R(2) = 0.55, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that sRAGE may be an early independent biomarker of cardiometabolic disease risk in youth. Prospective studies are needed to establish the predictive utility of sRAGE for long-term disease outcomes.
