Aim: ANGPTL8 is a cytokine expressed and secreted by liver and adipose tissue, and is involved in glucose, lipid, and energy metabolism. Although studies have shown that ANGPTL8 is elevated in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease, few have examined the association between ANGPTL8  single-nucleotide polymorphisms and the risk of macrovascular complications in T2DM patients. This study aimed to explore the relationship between rs2278426 and carotid intima–media thickening (cIMT) in T2DM.
Methods: A total of 217 T2DM patients and 201 healthy control subjects with normal glucose tolerance were recruited in the study. T2DM patients were divided into two groups: T2DM patients without cIM thickening (cIMT < 1 mm, 109 cases) and T2DM patients with cIM thickening (cIMT ≥ 1 mm, 108 cases). rs2278426 genotypes in all 418 subjects were determined and the risk of T2DM and T2DM with cIM thickening analyzed.
Results: CT+TT-genotype frequency in T2DM was higher than in controls with normal glucose tolerance, and the proportion of the CT+TT genotype in the group with cIMT was higher than in the group (P < 0.05). In addition, T alleles were associated with waist:hip ratio, triglycerides, high density–lipoprotein cholesterol, plasma glucose at 2 hours’ oral glucose tolerance, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Generally, carriers of the T allele at rs2278426 are more likely to develop T2DM, and the risk of cIM thickening is significantly increased for T-allele carriers with T2DM, which indicates an increased risk of macroangiopathy.
Keywords: type 2 diabetes mellitus, angiopoietin-like protein 8, carotid intima–media thickness, polymorphism, rs2278426