BACKGROUND Soluble forms of tumor necrosis factor receptors (sTNFRs) are emerging target molecules of inflammatory disease. However, their role in vascular biology is not well known. This study was performed to investigate the association between serum concentrations of sTNFRs and arterial stiffness.

METHODS A total of 117 consecutive patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) (63.6 ± 11.0 years; men, 65%) who were referred for invasive coronary angiography (ICA) were prospectively enrolled. Arterial blood sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 were measured using commercially available ELISA kits. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) measurements were made within 24 hours of blood sampling for sTNFRs measurement.

RESULTS Most of the patients (86.3%) had significant CAD (stenosis ≥ 50%) in ICA. In simple linear regression analyses, there were significant positive correlations of baPWV with sTNFR1 (r = 0.483, P < 0.001) and sTNFR2 (r = 0.366, P < 0.001). In multiple linear regression analyses, sTNFR1 (β = 0.316, P < 0.001) and sTNFR2 (β = 0.235, P = 0.005) had independent association with baPWV even after controlling for potential confounders.

CONCLUSION sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 were independently associated with baPWV in patients undergoing ICA. This result may extend previous knowledge on close interactions between inflammation and arterial stiffening.