Wenwen Ren,1 Conghui Liu,1 Ying Yan,1 Ming Han,2– 5 Pan Xiang,6 Qi Pang,1 Aihua Zhang1,7 

1Department of Nephrology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, People’s Republic of China; 3Beijing Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 4National Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 5National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 6Department of Nephrology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 7National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Aihua Zhang, Department of Nephrology, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, 45 Changchun Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100053, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 010 83199078, Fax +861062017700, Email rosezhang998@hotmail.com

Background: Mitsugumin 53 (MG53) plays a protective role against kidney diseases and cardiovascular diseases, but its mechanism of action is unclear. We speculate that the prevention of cardiovascular disease by MG53 may be associated with the inhibition of vascular calcification. This study was performed with the aim of investigating the potential association between the MG53 level and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD).
Methods: A total of 263 patients undergoing HD and 65 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were included. The patient serum MG53 level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the abdominal aortic calcification score (ACCs) was calculated using lateral abdominal radiography parameters. The laboratory and demographic data were collected at baseline.
Results: The serum MG53 levels in HD patients were significantly lower than those in healthy individuals [24.9 (IQR: 16.1– 40.1) vs 43.5 (IQR: 23.7– 74.4) pg/mL, P < 0.001]. In addition, HD patients with AAC presented markedly lower serum MG53 levels than those without AAC [22.0 (IQR: 15.3– 32.6) vs 26.9 (IQR: 16.8– 44.2) pg/mL, p=0.024]. Furthermore, multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that lower serum MG53 levels, an older age, a longer dialysis vintage, a higher serum total carbon dioxide (TCO2), and a higher serum phosphorus were independent risk factors for AAC in HD patients.
Conclusion: Our results demonstrate for the first time a correlation between lower serum MG53 levels and an increased risk of AAC in patients undergoing HD. In addition, an older age, a longer dialysis vintage, the presence of metabolic acidosis and higher serum phosphorus levels are independent risk factors for AAC in HD patients.

Keywords: Mitsugumin 5, hemodialysis, abdominal aortic calcification, chronic kidney disease