title: Increased plasma urotensin-II levels are associated with diabetic retinopathy and carotid atherosclerosis in Type 2 diabetes.
abstract: Human U-II (urotensin-II), the most potent vasoconstrictor peptide identified to date, is associated with cardiovascular disease. A single nucleotide polymorphism (S89N) in the gene encoding U-II (UTS2) is associated with the onset of Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance in the Japanese population. In the present study, we have demonstrated a relationship between plasma U-II levels and the progression of diabetic retinopathy and vascular complications in patients with Type 2 diabetes. Eye fundus, IMT (intima-media thickness) and plaque score in the carotid artery, BP (blood pressure), FPG (fasting plasma glucose), HbA(1c) (glycated haemoglobin), U-II, angiogenesis-stimulating factors, such as VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and heregulin-beta(1), and lipid profiles were determined in 64 patients with Type 2 diabetes and 24 non-diabetic controls. FPG, HbA(1c) and VEGF levels were significantly higher in patients with Type 2 diabetes than in non-diabetic controls. Diabetes duration, insufficient glycaemic and BP control, plasma U-II levels, IMT, plaque score and nephropathy grade increased significantly across the subjects as follows: non-diabetic controls, patients with Type 2 diabetes without retinopathy (group N), patients with Type 2 diabetes with simple (background) retinopathy (group A) and patients with Type 2 diabetes with pre-proliferative and proliferative retinopathy (group B). The prevalence of obesity and smoking, age, low-density lipoprotein, triacylglycerols (triglycerides) and heregulin-beta(1) were not significantly different among the four groups. In all subjects, U-II levels were significantly positively correlated with IMT, FPG, and systolic and diastolic BP. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that, of the above parameters, U-II levels alone had a significantly independent association with diabetic retinopathy. In conclusion, the results of the present study provide the first evidence that increased plasma U-II levels may be associated with the progression of diabetic retinopathy and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with Type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo 142-8666, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suguro
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Syuusuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kodate
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adachi
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014579:Urotensins / Q000097:blood*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D014579:Urotensins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C029677:urotensin II