RAGE is a multi-ligand transmembrane glycoprotein that promotes biological signals associated with inflammatory responses and degenerative diseases. sRAGE is a soluble variant, proposed as an inhibitor of RAGE activity. -374 T/A and -429 T/C polymorphisms of the advanced glycation end products receptor AGER gene are associated with the development of some diseases, such as type of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and micro and macrovascular disease in diabetes among others but their role in metabolic syndrome (MS) is still unknown. We studied 80 healthy men without MS, and 80 men with MS according to the harmonized criteria. -374 T/A and -429 T/C polymorphisms were genotyped by RT-PCR, and sRAGE was measured by ELISA. Allelic and genotypic frequencies did not differ between Non-MS and MS groups (-374 T/A p = 0.48, p = 0.57 and -429 T/C p = 0.36, p = 0.59). Significant differences were found in fasting glucose levels and diastolic blood pressure among the genotypes of the -374 T/A polymorphism in the Non-MS group (p < 0.01 and p = 0.008). Glucose levels were different between -429 T/C genotypes in the MS group (p = 0.02). sRAGE levels were similar in both groups, but in the Non-MS group showed a significant difference between individuals with only 1 or 2 components of the metabolic syndrome (p = 0.047). However, no associations of any SNP with MS were found (recessive model p = 0.48, dominant model p = 0.82 for -374 T/A; recessive model p = 0.48, dominant model p = 0.42 for -429 T/C). -374 T/A and -429 T/C polymorphisms are not associated with MS in Mexican population and have no influence on serum sRAGE levels.
Keywords: RAGE; metabolic syndrome; polymorphisms −374 T/A; sRAGE; −429 T/C.