Background
Cardiometabolic disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in persons with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Fractalkine (CX3CL1) is a potential mediator of both atherosclerosis and metabolic disease. Studies on the relationship of CX3CL1 with risk of CVD events and metabolic traits are lacking, particularly in the high-risk setting of CKD.
Study Design
Cross-sectional and longitudinal observational analysis.
Setting & Participants
Adults with CKD from 7 US sites participating in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study.
Predictor
Quartiles of plasma CX3CL1 levels at baseline.
Outcomes
Baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from a creatinine- and cystatin C–based equation, prevalent and incident CVD, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and its criteria, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, hemoglobin A1C, myocardial infarction, all-cause mortality, and the composite outcome of myocardial infarction/all-cause mortality.
Results
Among 3687 participants, baseline CX3CL1 levels were positively associated with several CVD risk factors and metabolic traits, lower eGFR, and higher levels of inflammatory cytokines as well as prevalent CVD (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.01–1.19; p=0.03). Higher CX3CL1 was also associated with prevalent diabetes (OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.16–1.38; p<0.001) in adjusted models. During a mean follow up of 6 years, there were 352 deaths, 176 myocardial infarctions, and 484 with composite outcomes. In fully-adjusted models, 1-SD higher CX3CL1 increased the hazard for all-cause mortality (1.11; 95% CI, 1.00–1.22; p=0.02) and the composite outcome (1.09; 95% CI, 1.00–1.19; p=0.04).
Limitations
Study design did not allow evaluation of changes over time, correlation with progression of phenotypes, or determination of causality of effect.
Conclusions
Circulating CX3CL1 may contribute to both atherosclerotic CVD and diabetes in a CKD cohort. Further studies are required to establish mechanisms through which CX3CL1 affects pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and diabetes.