Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum level of signal peptide-CUB-EGF domain-containing protein 1 (SCUBE-1) and both type 2 diabetes mellitus and its related microvascular complications.

Material and methods: The study was included 50 type 2 diabetic patients with complications (group 1), 50 diabetic patients without complications (group 2) and 50 healthy individuals as control group (group 3). Anthropometry and blood pressure measurements were performed in all participants. Serum SCUBE-1 level was measured by ELISA method. Blood levels of fasting glucose, BUN, creatinine, liver function tests, prothrombin time, active partial thromboplastin time, hemoglobin, platelet count, serum lipid parameters, and HbA1c values of participants were recorded. The diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy was performed by indirect fundus examination following pupil dilatation. The diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy was determined by microalbuminuria that measured by a 24-hour urine collection.

Results: The groups were similar in terms of age and gender (P>0.05). The median SCUBE-1 serum levels were 5.2 (2.35–9.55) ng/ml, 3.68 (1.47–6.42) ng/ml, and 3.87 (2.13–6.69) ng/ml in group 1, group 2, and group 3, respectively (P=0.365). There was not any significant difference between the groups according to SCUBE-1 serum level if diabetic subjects were divided into two groups according to their HbA1c levels as >7% or <7% (P=0.913). When all subjects were divided into two groups according to their fasting blood glucose levels as <200mg/dl or >200 mg/dl, median serum SCUBE-1 levels were 3.57 (1.79–6.72) ng/ml and 5.63 (2.45–9.88) ng/ml, respectively (P=0.030).

Conclusion: There was a positive correlation between serum SCUBE-1 level and fasting blood glucose level. However, there was not any meaningful change between serum SCUBE-1 level and diabetic microvascular complications such as diabetic retinopathy or nephropathy.