Relationship between circulating netrin-1 levels, obesity, prediabetes and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Background

Netrin-1 is presumed to have regenerative, angiogenic and anti-inflammatory properties, thus it could play a substantial role in the development of insulin resistance and T2DM.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum netrin-1 levels and carbohydrate disturbances in patients with obesity.

Methods

Sample size consisted of 163 patients, divided into four groups: obesity without carbohydrate disturbances prediabetes and diabetes and healthy controls Netrin-1 level was determined using ELISA method.

Results

Circulating serum Netrin-1 was significantly lower in patients only with obesity, as well as with those with prediabetes and diabetes in comparison to the control group. Correlation analysis revealed that netrin-1 correlates negatively with BMI, waist, WSR, LDL and positive with sudomotor function. Netrin-1 ≤ 0.17 ng/ml has about 3 fold higher risk for carbohydrate disturbances (OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.48–6.34, p = .003).

Conclusion

Netrin-1 is associated with an increased risk for glycaemic disorders in patients with obesity.

Keywords:

• Obesity
• prediabetes
• CVD

Disclosure statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The study was performed with the financial support of Medical University-Sofia, Bulgaria, Project no 4879/09.07.2018, Contract D-218/12.12.2018.