Evaluation of concentrations of FGF-21 - a new adipocytokine in type 2 diabetes.
BACKGROUND
Fibroblast growth factor 21 FGF-21 is a newly discovered adipocytokine which may play a vital role in improvement of insulin sensitivity and pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. The aim of the study was to assess FGF-21 concentrations in the serum of patients with type 2 diabetes, in comparison to a control group, and evaluate the possible relationships between the studied cytokine and selected clinical and biochemical parameters


METHODS
The study was conducted in 64 patients with type 2 diabetes, 28 women and 36 men aged 47-70 (median age 61.5), with a median duration of diabetes of 8.5 years. In fasting serum samples, concentrations of glucose, insulin, lipids profile parameters, creatinine, C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, HbA(1c), adiponectin, and FGF-21 were determined. The control group comprised 20 healthy persons matched for age to the study group, with no disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism: 14 women and 8 men.


RESULTS
We found significant differences concerning the medians of body mass index (BMI) 32.4 kg/m(2) v. 24.1 kg/m(2), p < 0.001; waist circumference 114 cm v. 81 cm, p < 0.001; HDL cholesterol 42.5 mg/dl v. 62.5 mg/dl, p < 0.001; triglyceride (TG) 152 mg/dl v. 99 mg/dl, p < 0.01 in the studied group, in comparison with the control group, respectively. In patients with diabetes, median FGF-21 concentration was 239.9 pg/ml and was significantly greater in comparison to the control group: 112.6 pg/ml p < 0.01. Median adiponectin concentration in patients with type 2 diabetes was significantly lower in comparison to the control group, 7.5 ng/ml v. 9.95 ng/ml, p < 0.05. Significant correlations between FGF-21 concentrations and adiponectin (r = -0.24, p < 0.05), weight (r = 0.27, p < 0.05), glucose (r = 0.27, p < 0.05), HDL cholesterol (r = -0.26, p < 0.05), TG (r = 0.27, p < 005), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (r = -0.28, p < 0.05) were observed. No significant correlations between FGF-21 and parameters of metabolic control, markers of inflammatory status, and insulin resistance, or the presence of vascular complications of diabetes, were noticed.


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of the conducted studies it can be concluded that the greater FGF-21 concentration observed in the examined group of patients with type 2 diabetes may result from a compensatory reaction to metabolic disturbances or tissue resistance to this cytokine. The negative correlation between FGF-21 and eGFR suggests renal elimination of the examined compound. (Pol J Endocrinol 2010; 61 (1): 50-54).
Matuszek
Beata
B
Chair and Department of Endocrinology, Medical University, Lublin, Poland. bmm@2com.pl
Lenart-Lipińska
Monika
M
Duma
Dariusz
D
Solski
Janusz
J
Nowakowski
Andrzej
A
D000368:Aged; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
C414620:fibroblast growth factor 21; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors