The Evaluation of SCUBE-1 and sCD40L Levels in Diabetic Nephropathy

Abstract

Aim: There is a close link between diabetic nephropathy and atherosclerotic heart disease. We aimed to evaluate the changes of SCUBE-1 and sCD40L, which play role in the course of atherosclerosis, with the progression of nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes.Material and Methods: Thirty healthy subjects (group 1) and 74 patients with type 2 diabetes (divided into 3 groups as normal albuminuria group (group 2, n=33), moderately increased albuminuria group (group 3, n=22) and severely increased albuminuria group (group 4, n=19)) were enrolled in the study. Plasma SCUBE-1 and sCD40L levels were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique.Results: Mean SCUBE-1 levels were significantly higher in group 4 compared to group 1 and group 2 (p=0.005 and p=0.014, respectively) and in group 3 compared to group 1 and group 2 (p=0.011 and p=0.028, respectively). Mean sCD40L levels were significantly higher in group 4 than in other three groups (all p<0.001), and in group 3 than in group 1 and group 2 (p=0.001 and p=0.016, respectively). Furthermore, SCUBE-1 level was positively correlated with total cholesterol level (r=0.212, p=0.031) and triglyceride (r=0.194, p=0.049). Likewise, sCD40L level was positively correlated with only creatinine level (r=0.297, p=0.002).Conclusion: SCUBE-1 and sCD40L levels increased with the progression of nephropathy in type 2 diabetes. This increment suggested that SCUBE-1 and sCD40L may play key role in the course of atherosclerosis due to diabetic nephropathy and, diabetic nephropathy may affect the levels of these parameters.