Abstract
Background Serum angiopoietin 2 levels have been associated with
endothelial dysfunction and diabetic kidney disease. Derangements in autonomous
nervous system lead to increased production of vasoconstrictory and angiogenic
mediators such as norepinephrine and neuropeptide Y and are associated with
increased risk of microvascular complications.
Aim To investigate associations between angiopoietin 2, neuropeptide Y
and diabetic kidney disease in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Methods 289 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus duration > 1
year were included. Patients were stratified according to presence of diabetic
nephropathy (macroalbuminuria, estimated glomerular filtration
rate<60 ml/min/1.73 m2 or
end-stage renal disease). Angiopoietin 2 was measured by Luminex technology.
Neuropeptide Y was measured by ELISA.
Results Patients with diabetic nephropathy had significantly increased
levels of angiopoietin 2 (4020.5 (2172.4–5778.1) pg/ml
vs. 2001.0 (1326.7–2862.7) pg/ml) and
neuropeptide Y (18.22 (14.85–21.85) ng/ml vs.
12.91 (9.96–17.07) ng/ml). Higher levels of angiopoietin
2 and neuropeptide Y were observed also in patients with arterial hypertension.
Angiopoietin 2 and neuropeptide Y correlated significantly
(ρ=0.245, p<0.001). Both biomarkers were significant
predictors of estimated glomerular filtration rate and diabetic nephropathy in
univariate regression models. In the fully adjusted regression models and after
application of a stepwise selection regression method, angiopoietin 2
demonstrated a stronger predictive power for diabetic nephropathy compared to
neuropeptide Y.
Conclusion Diabetic nephropathy is associated with increased serum
concentrations of angiopoietin 2 (marker of endothelial dysfunction) and
neuropeptide Y (marker of sympathetic activity) in type 1 diabetes. Angiopoietin
2 is a more potent predictor of diabetic nephropathy compared to neuropeptide
Y.
Keywords
type 1 diabetes - diabetic nephropathy - arterial hypertension - estimated glomerular filtration rate - endothelial dysfunction, autonomic neuropathy