Relationship of carotid atherosclerosis with serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor( BDNF),vascular endothelial growth factor( VEGF) levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus( T2DM). Methods A total of 120 T2 DM patients who were treated in our hospital were assigned to non-carotid atherosclerosis group( n = 56) and the carotid atherosclerosis group( n = 64) according to the results of carotid artery ultrasound detection. Another 60 healthy controls were recruited from health check-up populations. Clinical data of the participants were collected,and their serum levels of BDNF,VEGF were determined by ELISA. Results The serum BDNF levels of health check-up populations,non-carotid atherosclerosis group,and carotid atherosclerosis group were( 9. 97 ± 2. 59) ng /mL,( 6. 88 ± 3. 10) ng /mL,and( 5. 62 ± 3. 41) ng /mL,respectively,showing significant difference between different groups( P 0. 05); the serum VEGF levels were( 49. 29 ± 20. 23) ng /mL,( 61. 29 ± 22.05) ng /mL,and( 71. 34 ± 20. 30) pg /mL,respectively,also showing significant difference between different groups( P 0. 05).Conclusion T2 DM patients complicated with carotid atherosclerosis have deceased serum BDNF level and increased VEGF level,suggesting that low level of BDNF and high level of VEGF may be involved in the occurrence and progression of carotid atherosclerosis.