title: Increased circulating levels of betatrophin in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Betatrophin, a newly identified hormone, has been recently characterized as a potent stimulator that increases the production and expansion of insulin-secreting β-cells in mice, but the physiological role of betatrophin remains poorly understood. This study measured for the first time serum betatrophin levels in newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and explored the correlations between its serum levels and various metabolic parameters in T2DM.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the concentrations of betatrophin by ELISA in blood samples of 166 well-characterized individuals in whom anthropometric parameters, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), glycosylated hemoglobin, blood lipids, insulin sensitivity (1/homeostasis model assesment of insulin resistance [1/HOMA-IR] and Matsuda index [ISIM]), and insulin secretion were measured. The participants were divided into newly diagnosed T2DM patients (n = 83) and age-, sex- and BMI-matched healthy control subjects (n = 83).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum betatrophin levels were significantly higher in T2DM patients than in healthy control subjects (613.08 [422.19-813.08] vs. 296.57 [196.53-509.46] pg/mL; P < 0.01). Serum betatrophin positively correlated with age, 2-h post-OGTT glucose (2hPG), and postprandial serum insulin (PSI), but negatively with 1/HOMA-IR and ISIM in T2DM patients. In the control group, betatrophin was only positively associated with age. In T2DM subjects, multivariate regression analyses showed that age, 2hPG, and PSI were independent factors influencing serum betatrophin levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Circulating concentrations of betatrophin are significantly increased in T2DM patients. Our results suggest that betatrophin may play a role in the pathogenesis of T2DM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
authors.forename: Wenjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
authors.forename: Shuqin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
authors.forename: Xiafei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
authors.forename: Weiyun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
authors.forename: Bingqian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
authors.forename: Jifang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
authors.forename: Caoming
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Libin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China yuanguoyue@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Guoyue
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000091306:Angiopoietin-Like Protein 8; D000075802:Angiopoietin-like Proteins; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D019518:Postprandial Period
chemical_list: D000091306:Angiopoietin-Like Protein 8; D000075802:Angiopoietin-like Proteins; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007328:Insulin; D036361:Peptide Hormones; C576683:ANGPTL8 protein, human