title: Increased CD36 expression signals monocyte activation among patients with type 2 diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the hypothesis that CD36, a scavenger receptor and fatty acid translocase, is upregulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) among patients with type 2 diabetes and is a biomarker of PBMC activation and inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a cross-sectional observational design to study a multi-racial/ethnic population sample consisting of Caucasians, Hispanics, and Native Americans with type 2 diabetes (n = 33) and nondiabetic control subjects (n = 27). PBMC CD36 mRNA/protein and plasma high sensitivity (hs) C-reactive protein (hsCRP), hs-interleukin-6 (hsIL-6), and adiponectin were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Unadjusted PBMC CD36 mRNA and protein were 1.56- and 1.63-fold higher, respectively, among type 2 diabetic subjects versus control subjects. PBMC CD36 protein was directly associated with CD36 mRNA, plasma hsCRP, and hsIL-6 and inversely associated with plasma adiponectin in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased CD36 expression is a biomarker of PBMC activation and inflammation and may become a useful tool in cardiovascular disease risk stratification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
authors.forename: Yijuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scavini
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Orlando
authors.forename: Glen H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: Karen S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Servilla
authors.forename: Antonios H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Tzamaloukas
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schrader
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Bedrick
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Burge
authors.forename: Nada A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Abumrad
authors.forename: Philip G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Zager
mesh_terms: D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D018955:CD36 Antigens