Aim: We detected whether serum asprosin levels play a role in the occurrence and development of albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which has not been previously discussed.
Methods: Based on urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR), 207 T2DM patients were divided into T2DM patients with normoalbuminuria (UACR< 30 mg/g), microalbuminuria (30≤UACR< 300 mg/g), and macroalbuminuria (UACR≥ 300 mg/g). Serum asprosin levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: Comparatively, the serum asprosin levels in T2DM patient groups with macroalbuminuria [2.37 (1.63– 3.57)] and microalbuminuria [2.10 (1.60– 2.90)] were significantly increased than the normoalbuminuria group [1.59 (1.18– 2.09)] (P < 0.001). Importantly, the serum level of asprosin was positively correlated with UACR (r =0.304, P < 0.001), creatinine (r =0.157, P =0.024), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (r =0.244, P < 0.001), and negatively with glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (r =− 0.159, P =0.022). Furthermore, multiple stepwise regression analyses showed that asprosin was significantly and independently related to UACR, BUN, DBP, and LDL-C (P < 0.05). Besides, after adjustment for the confounders, the serum asprosin level was constantly and independently associated with the development of albuminuria in T2DM patients [OR (95% CI): 2.003 (1.37∼ 2.928), P < 0.001].
Conclusion: Obviously, the serum asprosin level was independently correlated with UACR in T2DM patients, which implies circulating asprosin may play an essential role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.
Keywords: asprosin, type 2 diabetes mellitus, diabetic nephropathy