CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY, vol.41, no.12, pp.981-985, 2008 (SCI-Expanded)
Objectives: Recent evidences suggest that the activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma 2, which plays an important role in vascular homeostasis, also regulates the expression of the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End products (RAGE). In turn, low levels of soluble RAGE (sRAGE) have recently emerged as a valuable biomarker of vascular inflammation. The potential alterations in sRAGE concentrations in peripheral arterial disease (PAD), however, have not been yet investigated. The aim of the present study was to clarify whether the Pro12Ala polymorphism of the PPAR-gamma 2 gene is related to plasma sRAGE levels and the presence of PAD in nondiabetic Italian individuals.