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Correlation of circulating dehydroepiandrosterone with activated protein C generation and carotid intima‐media thickness in male patients with Type 2 diabetes
Author(s) -
Suzuki T.,
Yano Y.,
Sakamoto M.,
Uemura M.,
Yasuma T.,
Onishi Y.,
Sasaki R.,
Matsumoto K.,
Hayashi T.,
MaruyamaFuruta N.,
Akatsuka H.,
Gabazza E. C.,
Sumida Y.,
Takei Y.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2012.03573.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , dehydroepiandrosterone , protein c , type 2 diabetes , c reactive protein , diabetes mellitus , intima media thickness , inflammation , androgen , hormone , carotid arteries
Diabet. Med. 29, e41–e46 (2012) Abstract Aims Dehydroepiandrosterone exerts a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases. However, the relationship of dehydroepiandrosterone with the anticoagulant factor activated protein C, generated by the thrombin–thrombomodulin complex on vascular endothelial cells, remains unknown. This study aimed at studying the relationship between dehydroepiandrosterone and activated protein C generation in patients with Type 2 diabetes. Methods Sixty‐two male patients with Type 2 diabetes were enrolled in this study. Data obtained from 40 healthy male subjects were used as controls. The plasma levels of dehydroepiandrosterone, the activated protein C–protein C inhibitor complex, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 were measured by enzyme immunoassays. Carotid intima‐media thickness was measured by ultrasonography. Results The plasma levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (5.15 ± 2.81 vs. 3.76 ± 2.16 ng/ml; P < 0.005) and the activated protein C–protein C inhibitor complex (1.90 ± 1.07 vs. 1.02 ± 0.51 ng/ml; P < 0.001) were significantly lower in patients with diabetes than in normal subjects. Univariate analysis showed a significant correlation of the plasma level of dehydroepiandrosterone with that of the activated protein C–protein C inhibitor complex ( r = 0.48, P < 0.001), high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein ( r = −0.30, P < 0.05) and with the mean intima‐media thickness ( r = −0.28, P < 0.05) in patients with diabetes. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that the plasma level of dehydroepiandrosterone is significantly correlated with the plasma levels of the activated protein C–protein C inhibitor complex ( F = 18.06) and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein ( F = 4.94). There was no correlation between the plasma levels of dehydroepiandrosterone and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1. Conclusions These results suggest that lower circulating levels of dehydroepiandrosterone are associated with decreased activated protein C generation and higher intima‐media thickness in patients with Type 2 diabetes.