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-374 T/A RAGE Polymorphism Is Associated with Chronic Kidney Disease Progression in Subjects Affected by Nephrocardiovascular Disease

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients present elevated advanced glycation end products (AGEs) blood levels. AGEs promote inflammation through binding to their receptor (RAGE), located on the membrane of mesangial cells, endothelial cells and macrophages. Several genetic polymorphisms influence RAGE transcription, expression and activity, including the substitution of a thymine with an adenine (T/A) in the position -374 of the gene promoter of RAGE. Our study investigates the role of -374 T/A RAGE polymorphism in CKD progression in subjects affected by nephrocardiovascular disease. Methods 174 patients (119 males (68.4%) mean age 67.2±0.88 years; 55 females (31.6%): mean age 65.4±1.50 years) affected by mild to moderate nephrocardiovascular CKD were studied. Each subject was prospectively followed for 84 months, every 6–9 months. The primary endpoint of the study was a rise of serum creatinine concentrations above 50% of basal values or end stage renal disease. Results Carriers of the A/A and T/A genotype presented higher plasma levels of interleukin 6 (A/A 29.5±15.83; T/A 30.0±7.89, vs T/T 12.3±5.04 p = 0.01 for both) and Macrophages chemoattractant protein 1 (A/A 347.1±39.87; T/A 411.8±48.41, vs T/T 293.5±36.20, p = 0.04 for both) than T/T subjects. Carriers of the A allele presented a faster CKD progression than wild type patients (Log-Rank test: Chi square = 6.84, p = 0,03). Cox regression showed that -374 T/A RAGE polymorphism (p = 0.037), albuminuria (p = 0.01) and LDL cholesterol (p = 0.038) were directly associated with CKD progression. HDL cholesterol (p = 0.022) and BMI (p = 0.04) were inversely related to it. No relationship was found between circulating RAGE and renal function decline. Conclusions -374 T/A RAGE polymorphism could be associated with CKD progression and inflammation. Further studies should confirm this finding and address whether inhibiting RAGE downstream signalling would be beneficial for CKD progression.


Introduction
Oxidative stress (OS) is one of the main causes associated with chronic kidney disease progression (CKD). Beyond aging, diabetes and hypertension, several mechanisms contribute the production of reactive oxygen species (H 2 O 2 , OH 2 , O . ) in CKD, including vitamin C deficiency due to malnutrition [1], impairment of antioxidant mechanisms [2,3]), inflammation [4] and increased levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), as a consequence of their impaired renal clearance [5]. The interaction between AGEs and their receptor (RAGE) located on monocytes [6], T-lymphocytes [7] and endothelial cells [8,9], enhances NF-kB-mediated [10] cellular production of cytokines, including interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor a (TNF-a) and cell adhesion molecules. These events induce OS and reduce endothelial nitric oxide synthetase activity, thus resulting in endothelial dysfunction, a hallmark of cardiovascular complications, especially in diabetic patients [11].
RAGE is present either as a transmembrane receptor or as soluble protein (sRAGE). The latter acts as a decoy for circulating AGEs thus limiting the interaction between AGEs and membrane RAGE [12]. The gene is located on chromosome 6 (6p21.32 region). The transcription of the RAGE towards the soluble form rather than the membrane anchored form depends on two different types of post-transcriptional splicing of the messenger RNA respectively, which in turn generate two types of t-RNA [13]. It is known that higher sRAGE levels exert a protective role, in fact they are related to a lower risk of microvascular complication in type 2 diabetic patients [14]. There are several polymorphisms which could influence the transcription, the alternative splicing of the m-RNA, thus influencing the ratio between membrane and soluble RAGE, or the receptor affinity for AGEs [15,16].
A relatively frequent polymorphism consisting in a substitution of thymine with adenine (T/A) in -374 position of the gene promoter, leading in a 3 fold increase of transcriptional activity (17), was associated with protection toward the development of cardiovascular disease (T/A or A/A individuals) in both diabetic and non-diabetic individuals [17,18], although not all studies are consistent with these findings [19,20]. Also the association between the -374 T/A RAGE polymorphism and diabetic nephropathy is unclear. Whereas in some studies a protective role of -374 A genotype in diabetic nephropathy was showed [17], this finding was not confirmed by others [21]. Indeed two studies observed the prevalence of the A allele in patients affected by diabetic nephropathy [22,23].
Therefore we prospectively investigated the role of this singlenucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the decline of renal function in patients with mild to moderate kidney dysfunction.

Ethics Statement
This trial has been conducted according to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The trial was a substudy of CHECK Trial. It was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Study of Milan (Ethics committee UNIMI, approved on 06-02-2001, protocol n Pr.0003). Each patient signed an informed consent before participating to the trial. . Patients groups were matched for all anthropometric, clinical and biohumoral parameters. Patients affected by any inflammatory or infective pathologies, congenital or hereditary kidney diseases, glomerulonephritis, malignant neoplasia, cardiovascular events in the 6 months before (acute myocardial infarction, stroke, transient brain ischemic attacks, acute coronary syndrome, carotid thromboarterectomy, percutaneous coronary angioplasty, arterial angioplasty at the inferior limbs, coronary bypass, arterial by-pass at the inferior limbs), major surgery in the previous 6 months, acute heart failure in the 6 months before, chronic heart failure NYHA III and IV, have been excluded from the trial. At the enrolment medical history (comprehensive of a drug history) was investigated and examined, including arterial pressure measurement (systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure; the mean values of three measurements performed every 15 minutes were registered), weight and height (for BMI calculation) and waist circumference measurement.

Patients and Study Design
Basal blood and urine samples were taken for the following  laboratory tests: urea, creatinine, electrolytes, calcium, phosphorus, PTH, uric acid, glycated haemoglobin, blood glucose,  haemoglobin, bicarbonates, iron assessment, albumin, lipid profile,  PCR, interleukin 6, interleukin 8, macrophage chemoattractant  protein 1, leptin, adiponectin, circulating RAGEs, albuminuria,  urinary sodium and urinary urea and a genotyping for the -374  T/A RAGE polymorphism. GFR was assessed both as calculated creatinine clearance (using the 24 hours urine collection) and as estimated GFR, using the Levey's formula [24].
Each subject was prospectively followed for 84 months and visited every 6-9 months, even blood samples were taken for the routine clinical biohumoral analyses (comprehensive serum creatinine). 24 hour urine was collected and sent to our central laboratory together with blood samples every visit.
The endpoint of the study was a rise of serum creatinine plasma concentrations above 50% of the basal values or severe renal dysfunction requiring dialysis treatment in the short period.
Patients who neeeded dialysis urgently went to our observation as late referrals, having not respected the follow-up schedule.

Laboratory Methods
Blood and urine samples were collected after over-night fasted. After centrifugation at 3.000 rpm for 12 minutes, samples were stored at 280uC.
LDL cholesterol fraction was calculated using Friedewald formula as described.

Genotyping
Genomic DNA was extracted using the Flexigene DNA kit (Qiagen, Milan, Italy) [28]. Genotyping for the -374 T/A RAGE polymorphism was performed on 1 mL (10 to 200 ng of DNA), using a TaqMan allelic discrimination test. The primers used were the following: FW 59--39, REV 59--39 and the probes were FAM--BQ1 and Texas Red--BQ2.

Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Macrophages mRNA Analysis
-374 T/A RAGE polymorphism was assessed with real time PCR. Briefly blood diluted 1:3 in PBS (15 ml) was layered onto 4 ml of Ficoll Hipaque (Amersham) and centrifuged at 1500 rpm for 35 min. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were removed from the interface and washed twice (10 min 1500 rpm) in PBS before being counted. Total RNA was extracted and underwent reverse transcription as described [29,30]. Three mL of cDNA were amplified by real-time quantitative PCR with 1X Syber green universal PCR mastermix (BioRad). The specificity of the Syber green fluorescence was tested by plotting fluorescence as a function of temperature to generate a melting curve of the amplicon. The primers used are described elsewhere [31,32]. The melting peaks of the amplicons were as expected (not shown). Each sample was analyzed in duplicate using the IQ-Cycler (BioRad). The PCR amplification was related to a standard curve ranging from 10 211 M to 10 214 M.
sRAGE Levels Determination sRAGE levels were determined via ELISA assay using QuantikineH Human RAGE kit (R&D System, Minneapolis, USA) as described [33]. Briefly, pre-coated microplates with monoclonal antibody specifics for RAGE's extracellular domain were used. Firstly, 100 mL of Assay Diluent, 50 mL of sample (plasma stored at 220uC) and 50 mL of RAGE standard solutions (5000 pg/mL-2500 pg/mL-1250 pg/mL-625 pg/mL-312 pg/ mL-156 pg/mL-78 pg/mL) were added. After two hours of incubation period at 25uC, the content of each well was aspired and four wash cycles with Wash Buffer solution were made. Then, the RAGE conjugate was added to react with the antibody and the microplate was exposed to two hours of incubation at 25uC. After another cycle of washes, Substrate Solution was added and the colour developed proportionally to the amount of RAGE bound in the initial step. Finally, Stop Solution (H 2 SO 4 2 N) was added to stop the reaction and via spectrometer lecture was made at 450 nm. Results were expressed as pg/mL.

Left Ventricular Mass was Evaluated with Echocardiography
Echocardiograms were performed at rest with patients supine in the left lateral side, using standard parasternal and apical views. The overall monodimensional left ventricular measurements and the bidimensional (apical four and two chamber) views have been obtained according to the recommendations of the American Society of Echocardiography. All tracings have been done and read by a single observer blinded to the clinical characteristics of the patients under observation. LV mass has been derived using the formula described by Devereux and colleagues [34]: LV Mass (grams) = 0.8061.04 [(VSTd+LVIDd+PWTd) 3 2(L-VIDd) 3 ]+0.6, where VSTd is ventricular septal thickness at end diastole, LVIDd is LV internal dimension at end diastole, and PWTd is LV posterior wall thickness at end diastole. Left ventricular mass has been corrected for height 2.7 (LVMI), and expressed in units of grams/meter (g/m 2.7 ). The presence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has been defined for LVMI.51 g/m 2.7 in either gender.

Carotid Intima-media Thickness
Intima plus media thickness (IMT) of both carotid arteries has been evaluated by high resolution US scan, Biosound 2000 SA (Minneapolis, In, USA) with a 8-MHz transducer as described [35]. Carotid artery has been scanned at the internal, at the bifurcation and at the common carotid artery (CCA). At each longitudinal projection the far-wall IMT, as defined by Wendelhag [36], was measured in five standardized points, in the first centimetre proximal to the bulb dilation. Carotid plaque has been defined as IMT.1.3 mm. IMT has been measured on CCA outside the plaque, if any was present. Each patient's IMT has been calculated taking the averages of ten measurements, 5 in the left and 5 in the right carotid artery.

Endothelial Functionality Assessment -Flow-Mediated Dilatation
Endothelial function was evaluated non-invasively by B-mode ultrasonography (SA 6000C-MT, Medison, South Korea) as described elsewhere [31]. Briefly, each subject was requested to lie at rest for 10 min in a temperature-controlled room (21uC61), and the first scan of brachial artery in the left arm was taken.
This was followed by inflation of a standard pneumatic tourniquet placed around the upper arm at a pressure of 200 mmHg. After cuff removal, electrocardiography was monitored continuously during the study and measurements were taken at the end diastole.
Vessel images were taken at rest and during reactive hyperemia: FMD was calculated 90-210 sec after the deflation of a pneumatic tourniquet. NMD was calculated as the percentage in variation between the basal diameter and the maximum diameter after sublingual administration or glyceryl trinitrate 0.3 mg.

Statistical Analysis
Statistical analysis was performed using the statistical package STATA/SE 9.2 for Windows XP. Results of the continuous variables were expressed as Mean 6 Standard Error.
The three groups of patients (T/T, T/A and A/A -374 RAGE genotypes) were compared each other in terms of anthropometric, clinical, instrumental and biohumoral parameters using a one-way ANOVA. The post Hoc analysis was performed using the Bonferroni's Test. The distribution of sexes, diabetes, medications, smoke habitude among the three groups was assessed with a Chi square. The significance was assumed for p values ,0.05.
The survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan Mayer method. The rate of survival was compared between the three groups of patients using the Log-Rank test. The significance was assumed for p values ,0.05.
Finally two separate Cox multivariate models were generated including in the analysis the -374 T/A RAGE genotype, sRAGE and all the principal variables of nephrological interest as covariates and the rising of serum creatinine concentrations or dialysis as the outcome variable. The Enter method was used. The significance was assumed for p values ,0.05.

Results
The anthropometric and biohumoral characteristics of patients enrolled in the trial are shown in The presence of the -374 T/A SNP was not associated with subclinical cardiovascular disease, in fact carotid intima-media thickness, flow mediated brachial artery vasodilation and left ventricular mass were not statistically different among the RAGE genotypes. Finally the distribution of anti-hypertensive, antidiabetic or lipid-lowering therapies was similar among the three groups (table 2).
During the follow-up period we observed 40 events comprehensive of the serum creatinine increase of more than 50% of the basal values and need of dialysis (22%).
Survival analysis showed a faster decline of renal function in carriers of the A allele compared to TT subjects (Log-Rank test: Chi square = 6.34, p = 0,018) ( fig. 1).
Differences in renal survival were also maintained when the three genotypes were analyzed independently; with a significant difference in terms of survival between T/T subjects and T/A and A/A subjects (Log-Rank test: Chi square = 6.84, p = 0,03) ( fig. 2).
Overall T/T subjects presented a mean percentage of endpoint achievement of 8960.04% at 67 months, those belonging to T/A group showed a mean percentage of endpoint achievement 7060.04% at 75 months and patients carrying the A/A genotype 7560.07% at 74 months.
Furthermore multivariate analysis was then performed to identify among albuminuria, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, -374 T/A RAGE, BMI, GFR, mean arterial pressure, haemoglobin levels and calcium-phosphorus product, the main predictors of renal function decline ( Table 3) (Table 4).

Discussion
Our results show that CKD patients with the -374 RAGE A allele have a poor CKD prognosis compared to carriers of the TT genotype. Although the role of -374 T/A RAGE in CKD progression has not been extensively investigated, some crosssectional studies showed an association of the A allele with CKD in diabetic subjects [22,23], in contrast with the protective role exerted by this allele toward cardiovascular disease [21]. To the best of our knowledge, our trial is the first which prospectively shows a direct relationship between -374 T/A RAGE polymorphism and the decline of kidney function in patients with cardiovascular renal disease. Of note, a recent meta-analysis showed that other SNPs known to affect RAGE transcription are not associated with the prevalence of diabetic nephropathy [37] further supporting the relevance of our finding.
This finding suggests that the presence of the T allele is protective toward the decline of kidney function compared to a potential protective effect of the A allele in cardiovascular disorders showed in previous studies [21]. The molecular mechanisms behind this effect need further investigations. The presence of the -374 A allele is associated with increased RAGE transcription [16]; however, while the increase in RAGE plasma levels observed in carriers of the A allele was not statistically significant we cannot exclude that specific isoforms of RAGE are differently affected. Indeed, the transcription of the RAGE towards the soluble form rather than the membrane form depends on a different post-transcriptional splicing of the messenger RNA (38). It is known that higher sRAGE levels exert a protective role, in fact they are related to a lower risk of microvascular complication in type 2 diabetic patients [14]. However sRAGE levels are contributed both by the original spliced isoforms but also by the cleaved membrane receptor [38], with potentially different roles. Of note, in vitro experiments have shown that AGEs-RAGE  interaction is involved in the progression of renal damage by inducing mesangial fibrosis, glomerular sclerosis and the expression of vascular endothelial grow factor (VEGF) and MCP1 by mesangial cells [39,40], which in turn could support monocyte mesangial infiltration in early phase of diabetic nephropathy [41]. AGEs-RAGE interaction stimulates mesangial cells production of insulin grow factor-1 and 2, platelet derived grow factor (PDGF) and transforming grow factor-b (TGF-b), which further promote mesangial production of type IV collagen, laminin and fibronectin [39][40][41]. Moreover AGEs-RAGE interaction also increases TGFb expression by podocytes and proximal tubular cells, leading to glomerulosclerosis and tubule-interstitial fibrosis [42]. Furthermore in vivo experiments in rats showed that infusion of AGEalbumin induced glomerular hypertrophy, overexpression of type IV collagen, laminin B1 and TGF-b [42,43,44]. AGEs-RAGE interaction and also other metabolic factors such as HDL also increases TGF-b expression by podocytes and proximal tubular cells, leading to glomerulosclerosis and tubule-interstitial fibrosis [45,46]. All these aspects clearly point to an involvement of the AGEs-RAGE in CKD progression. AGEs promote inflammation [47] by binding RAGE on the surface of macrophages, lymphocytes, endothelial cells and mesangial cells; the observation that in our cohort carriers of the A allele present increased levels of MCP-1 and IL-6 could support the concept of an higher inflammatory mediated kidney function decline in A carriers. Cox analysis showed that also albuminuria and LDL cholesterol were independent predictors of CKD progression in agreement with the CKD protective effects of therapies aimed at improving proteinuria such as RAS inhibitors or lipid profile [48] such as HMGCoA reductase inhibitors [49].
The Cox analysis also showed an inverse relationship between BMI and CKD progression. Although this finding could seem somehow confounding, given that BMI, an obesity marker as waist circumference, is a risk factor for the development and the progression of chronic renal dysfunction [50], our data support the hypothesis that BMI could inversely reflect patient's lean mass and malnutrition, which is highly prevalent among CKD patients at risk of progression [51].
We have to acknowledge some limitations of our study: firstly, we enrolled patients who already presented some degree of renal dysfunction which could result in minor differences among the genotypes. However, the long follow-up (84 months) allowed to appreciate prospectively the association of the A allele to kidney function decline compared to that of TT.  Secondly, we investigated a relatively limited number of CKD patients, however the frequencies of the -374T/A genotypes are similar to those reported in larger cohorts [18,20], thus suggesting that our findings could set the stage for further confirmation in larger CKD cohorts. We cannot exclude that studying prospectively a cohort of subjects, all with a normal renal function and a longer follow-up could result in additional predictors.
In conclusion, our data support the role of AGEs-RAGE system in the progression of chronic renal dysfunction and suggest a potential target to further improve the management of CKD progression toward dialysis given that the conventional strategies are not sufficiently effective. Future studies addressing markers of inflammation and of angiogenesis are needed to clarify the pathophysiological mechanisms of AGEs-RAGE system activation and the association between the chronic inflammatory status and the consecutive kidney remodelling in relation to the RAGE status.