Circulating Endocan in Subjects with Obesity and Carbohydrate Disturbances

Abstract

Objective: Endothelial-specific molecule 1 (endocan) is expressed by endothelial cells and may have a major role in the regulation of cell adhesion and in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders such as obesity and diabetes. Аim of this study is to evaluate endocan serum levels in patients with obesity and carbohydrate disturbances. Subjects and methods: The study group consisted of 163 patients with mean age 52,5±11,3 years, divided in four groups - obesity without carbohydrate disturbances, prediabetes, diabetes and 42 healthy individuals as a control group. Endocan levels were determined using a commercially available human enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Results: The levels of endocan were significantly higher in patients with prediabetes and obesity compared to the control group (618.92±874.29 ;425.85±391.76; vs.321.02±304.11pg/ml, p<0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that endocan correlates positively with triglyceride (TG) (r=0.219;p<0.05), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) (r=0.225;p<0.05), visceral adiposity index (VAI) (r=0.186;p<0.05) and negative with HDL (r= -0.176;p<0.05). We found higher level of endocan in patients with three or more components of MS as well as higher levels of endocan were found in patients with dyslipidemia (p<0.05). ROC analyses determined circulating endocan levels to be of value for differentiating subjects with prediabetes (AUC=0.670,p=0.007, as a cut-off value of ≥183pg/ml had a sensitivity of 88% and specificity of 65%) Conclusion: The levels of endocan were increased in patients with obesity and carbohydrate disturbances. Further studies will elucidate the role of the biomarker in development of type 2 diabetes and its complications