Elevated serum β2-glycoprotein-I-lipoprotein(a) complexes levels are associated with the presence and complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Aims: To examine the serum levels of β2-glycoprotein I-lipoprotein(a) complexes [β2-GPI-Lp(a)] in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and evaluate the association of the complexes with complications in T2DM.

Methods: Fifty two T2DM patients (22 with complications and 30 free of complications) and 52 age/gender-matched healthy controls were studied. Serum concentrations of β2-GPI-Lp(a) and ox-Lp(a) were measured by "sandwich" ELISAs and their associations with complications were examined using multiple linear regression.

Results: Mean serum β2-GPI-Lp(a) (1.19 ± 0.30 U/mL vs. 0.89 ± 0.20 U/mL, p<0.001) and ox-Lp(a) concentrations (13.34 ± 11.73 mg/L vs. 5.26 ± 3.34 mg/L, p<0.001) were both significantly higher in T2DM than in controls. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for β2-GPI-Lp(a) and ox-Lp(a) was 0.725 and 0.738, respectively. β2-GPI-Lp(a) levels were markedly higher in patients with complications than those without complication (1.39 ± 0.28 U/mL vs. 1.04 ± 0.31 U/mL, p<0.01), whereas no marked difference was found in ox-Lp(a). In multivariate regression analysis, the association between β2-GPI-Lp(a) and complications remained significant (β=0.249, p<0.05, respectively) after adjustments were made for other traits.

Conclusions: Elevated β2-GPI-Lp(a) may reflect chronic underlying pathophysiological processes involved in development of complications of T2DM.