Plasma protein growth arrest-specific 6 levels are associated with altered glucose tolerance, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction.
OBJECTIVE
Plasma protein growth arrest-specific 6 (Gas6) is important to the inflammatory process and is involved in the development of diabetic renal and vascular complications. We set out to determine whether plasma Gas6 levels are associated with altered glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction.


METHODS
A total of 278 adults, including 96 with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), 82 with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and 100 with type 2 diabetes were recruited. Plasma Gas6 concentration and biochemical, proinflammatory, and endothelial variables were determined. Insulin sensitivity was examined by homeostasis model assessment.


RESULTS
Plasma Gas6 concentration was significantly lower among patients with type 2 diabetes compared with subjects with NGT (P < 0.001). The plasma Gas6 value was inversely correlated with fasting glucose, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, after adjustment for established diabetes risk factors, higher plasma Gas6 concentrations were significantly associated with a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes. Moreover, the association became slightly stronger after further adjustment for TNF-alpha, IL-6, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and VCAM-1.


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma Gas6 is associated with altered glucose tolerance, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction. It also may represent a novel independent risk factor of type 2 diabetes and a potential surrogate marker of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction.
Hung
Yi-Jen
YJ
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
Lee
Chien-Hsing
CH
Chu
Nain-Feng
NF
Shieh
Yi-Shing
YS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult; D000099255:Growth Arrest-Specific Protein 6
D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D000099255:Growth Arrest-Specific Protein 6