Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) levels in malignant and benign pericardial effusions.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a regulator of bone and vascular homeostasis and acts as a decoy receptor for proapoptotic TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL).

DESIGN AND METHODS:

We assessed pericardial and serum levels of OPG and TRAIL in pericardial effusions (PE) of malignant (mPE, n=24) or non-malignant (nPE, n=34) origin, and in pericardial fluid (PF, n=25) of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients by ELISA.

RESULTS:

OPG was at least 5 fold higher in PE or PF compared to serum, with a significantly higher ratio of pericardial to serum OPG in patients with mPE or nPE compared to PF (mPE vs. PF, p=0.011; nPE vs. PF, p<0.001). TRAIL was only detectable in mPE and PF. Logistic regression analysis revealed that a high ratio of pericardial to serum OPG and high TRAIL in PE were the best variable combination to predict malignancy of PE.

CONCLUSIONS:

Pericardial and systemic OPG or TRAIL are potential diagnostic tools to discriminate between malignant or benign PE.

• Authors: Konstantinos Karatolios, Sabine Pankuweit, Claudia Goettsch, Lorenz C Hofbauer, Nina Timmesfeld, Nadia Al-Fakhri, Bernhard Maisch, Michael Schoppet
• Journal: Clinical biochemistry (Clin Biochem) Vol. 45 Issue 3 Pg. 237-42 (Feb 2012) ISSN: 1873-2933 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22202560 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Osteoprotegerin
• TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand

Topics

• Demography
• Female
• Humans
• Leukocyte Count
• Logistic Models
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Models, Biological
• Osteoprotegerin (blood)
• Pericardial Effusion (blood)
• TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (blood)