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Uncarboxylated Matrix Gla Protein as a Biomarker in Cardiovascular Disease: Applications for Research and for Routine Diagnostics

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Book cover Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is a vitamin K-dependent protein acting as an inhibitor of vascular calcification. Poor dietary vitamin K intake results in the formation of inactive MGP, also known as uncarboxylated MGP, which is set free in the blood stream where it is available for quantification by ELISA-based assays. In the healthy adult population, significant concentrations of uncarboxylated MGP are found, suggesting a widespread dietary vitamin K insufficiency. Automated assays for two uncarboxylated MGP species are presently available: desphospho-uncarboxylated MGP (dp-ucMGP), a risk marker for cardiovascular disease and mortality, and total uncarboxylated MGP (t-ucMGP), a disease marker for prevalent arterial calcification. The assay principles and the diagnostic utility of both markers are described in this chapter.

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Abbreviations

CAC:

Coronary artery calcification

CVD:

Cardiovascular disease

DMAE:

Dimethyl acridinium ester

dp-ucMGP:

Desphospho-uncarboxylated MGP

ELISA:

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Gla:

Gammacarboxyglutamate

HAMA:

Human anti-mouse antigen

MGP:

Matrix Gla protein

RLU:

Relative light units

t-ucMGP:

Total uncarboxylated MGP

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Vascular Diagnostics, R&D Group VitaK, Maastricht University, Oxfordlaan 55, 6229, Maastricht, EV, The Netherlands

    Cees Vermeer, Nadja E. A. Drummen, Marjo H. J. Knapen & Fokko J. Zandbergen

Authors
  1. Cees Vermeer
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  2. Nadja E. A. Drummen
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  3. Marjo H. J. Knapen
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  4. Fokko J. Zandbergen
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Cees Vermeer or Marjo H. J. Knapen .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Science & Technology , University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

  2. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Division of Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

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Vermeer, C., Drummen, N.E.A., Knapen, M.H.J., Zandbergen, F.J. (2016). Uncarboxylated Matrix Gla Protein as a Biomarker in Cardiovascular Disease: Applications for Research and for Routine Diagnostics. In: Patel, V., Preedy, V. (eds) Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Disease. Biomarkers in Disease: Methods, Discoveries and Applications. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7678-4_14

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