A pro-inflammatory glycoprotein biomarker is associated with lower bilirubin in metabolic syndrome

Objectives: Bilirubin exerts anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties which may beneficially influence the development of cardio-metabolic disorders. A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy-based glycoprotein biomarker, designated GlycA, whose signal originates from several glycosylated acute-phase proteins, has been recently developed. We tested whether plasma GlycA is associated with bilirubin in subjects with and without MetS. Design and methods: GlycA (NMR spectroscopy), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and bilirubin were measured in 58 fasting subjects with MetS and in 63 subjects without MetS (including 65 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus). Results: GlycA and hs-CRP were higher, coinciding with lower bilirubin in MetS (p 0.05 for each) and diabetes status (p > 0.50 for each). Conclusions: GlycA is elevated in MetS, and may represent a quantitative measure of a pro-inflammatory state. Increased levels of glycosylated acute-phase proteins are associated with lower bilirubin in MetS. (C) 2015 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved