title: Serum apolipoproteins are associated with systemic and retinal microvascular function in people with diabetes.
abstract: Serum apolipoprotein (apo)AI and -B have been shown to be associated with diabetic retinopathy, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We investigated whether apoAI and apoB levels are associated with measures of systemic and retinal microvascular function in patients with diabetes. We recruited 224 diabetic patients (85 type 1 and 139 type 2) and assessed serum lipids and lipoproteins from fasting blood, skin responses to sodium nitroprusside (endothelium independent) and acetylcholine (ACh) (endothelium dependent) iontophoresis, flicker-light-induced retinal vasodilatation, and retinal vascular tortuosity. After adjustment for age and sex, every SD increase in apoAI level was associated with ACh-induced skin perfusion (mean change 1.27%; P < 0.001 for apoAI) and flicker-light retinal arteriolar vasodilatation (0.33%; P = 0.003) and was associated inversely with arteriolar tortuosity (-2.83 × 10(-5); P = 0.044). Each SD increase in apoB was associated with arteriolar tortuosity only (1.75 × 10(-5); P = 0.050). These associations, except for apoB, remained in multivariate models. Serum apoAI was associated with increased vasomotor responsiveness to ACh and flickering light and inversely related to retinal vessel tortuosity--a characteristic that has both structural and functional dimensions. These findings provide additional insights into the potential mechanisms of apos in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy and other diabetic microvascular complications.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Muhammad Bayu
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Sasongko
authors.forename: Tien Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Thanh T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.forename: Alicia J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Jie Jin
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine; D000368:Aged; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood*; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007478:Iontophoresis; D008027:Light; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009599:Nitroprusside; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply
chemical_list: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D008055:Lipids; D009599:Nitroprusside; D000109:Acetylcholine