Is cathelicidin a novel marker of diabetic microangiopathy in patients with type 1 diabetes?

Abstract

AimThe aim was to evaluate the relationship between higher serum cathelicidin levels with the occurrence of chronic microangiopathic complications in patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1). MethodsThe study group consisted of 62 patients with DM1 (35 men), aged 30 (24–38) years and with duration of DM1 12 (9–17) years. Patients were divided into two groups depending on the level of cathelicidin, with cut-off point 24.5ng/ml (median value for the whole group) and according to the presence or absence of any microangiopathy. ResultsThe group with higher serum level of cathelicidin (n=31) in comparison with patients with lower levels (n=31) had higher serum level of total cholesterol [5.0(4.5–5.6) vs 4.5(3.9–5.0) mmol/l; p=0.04], HDL cholesterol [1.9(1.5–2.1) vs 1.4(1.3–1.8) mmol/l; p=0.009], LDL cholesterol [2.6(2.2–3.1) vs 2.3(1.9–2.8) mmol/l; p=0.03] and higher TSH value [1.8(1.5–2.6) vs 1.4(0.9–2.1) mIU/L; p=0.01]. Moreover, higher serum levels of cathelicidin were in women than men (58% vs 29%, p=0.02) and in patients with vs without microangiopathy (45% vs 19%, p=0.03). In the multiple regression model higher serum level of cathelicidin was related to the presence of microangiopathy, independently from sex, waist to hip ratio, serum total cholesterol level and TSH. ConclusionsPatients with type 1 diabetes and presence of microangiopathy characterize higher level of serum cathelicidin. This observation may have important clinical implication and needs further investigations.