Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41914672›Full record

ArticleVascular medicine (London, England)2026

Skin autofluorescence is associated with plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinases in subjects without overt atherosclerosis.

Nynke A Jager, Helmy J Hinkema, Joop D Lefrandt, Damiano Baldassarre, Andries J Smit, Johanna Westra, Douwe J Mulder, Clark J Zeebregts

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In one paragraph

Article in Vascular medicine (London, England), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Nynke A JagerDepartment of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Helmy J HinkemaDepartment of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Joop D LefrandtDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of Vascular Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Damiano BaldassarreDepartment of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Andries J SmitDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of Vascular Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Johanna WestraDepartment of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Douwe J MulderDepartment of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Clark J ZeebregtsDepartment of Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-5011-4124

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAdvanced glycation end products (AGEs) may promote arterial matrix remodeling via the receptor for AGEs (RAGE) signaling. Skin autofluorescence estimates tissue AGE burden. We examined whether skin autofluorescence relates to circulating matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in asymptomatic adults.

methodsIn a cross-sectional cohort of 262 asymptomatic adults, skin autofluorescence was measured with the AGE Reader. Plasma concentrations of MMP-3, MMP-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and soluble RAGE (sRAGE) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque burden were quantified by ultrasound. Associations between skin autofluorescence and biomarkers were tested using multivariable linear regression with prespecified covariates; biomarker coefficients were scaled per 10 ng/mL (hsCRP per 1 mg/L).

resultsSkin autofluorescence correlated with MMP-3, MMP-9, TIMP-1, hsCRP, and IMT

conclusionsIn asymptomatic adults, higher skin autofluorescence is independently associated with circulating MMP-3, MMP-9, and TIMP-1, and with early carotid atherosclerosis markers. Findings support a link between tissue glycation and arterial matrix remodeling and suggest that skin autofluorescence plus MMP-9 may offer a practical, noninvasive approach for early vascular risk stratification.

Indexed as

Carotid Artery DiseasesGlycation End Products, AdvancedMatrix Metalloproteinase 3Matrix Metalloproteinase 9Matrix MetalloproteinasesOptical ImagingSkinAdultAgedAsymptomatic DiseasesBiomarkersCarotid Intima-Media ThicknessC-Reactive ProteinCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansAGER protein, humanBiomarkersC-Reactive ProteinGlycation End Products, AdvancedMatrix Metalloproteinase 3Matrix Metalloproteinase 9Matrix MetalloproteinasesMMP3 protein, humanMMP9 protein, humanReceptor for Advanced Glycation End ProductsTIMP1 protein, humanTissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1advanced glycation end productsatherosclerosiscarotid artery diseaseinflammationmatrix metalloproteinaseskin autofluorescencevascular remodeling

Identifiers

PMID41914672
PMCPMC13451591

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.