Preoperative glucose level has different effects on the endogenous extracellular matrix-related gene expression in saphenous vein of type 2 diabetic patients undergoing coronary surgery

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) severely reduces the benefits of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, few studies investigated the correlation between preoperative glucose level and endogenous extracellular matrix (ECM)-related gene expression of saphenous vein (SV) conduits in diabetic patients.

Methods: A total of 130 patients were divided into high-glucose (HG), low-glucose (LG) and control group according to the preoperative level of blood glucose. The expression of ECM-related genes was analysed by microarray.

Results: Compared with control group, 30 genes showed at least a threefold change in expression in HG group; up-regulation was observed in 24 genes. However, there were only 21 ECM-related genes showed at least a threefold change in expression between the LG and control group. Compared with HG group, matrix metalloproteinases' (MMPs) expression was significantly decreased in LG and control groups. In contrast to the decrease in MMPs' expression, expression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) was increased.

Conclusion: This study suggested that different preoperative diabetic status affected the expression of ECM-related genes in SV. ECM-related genes were more significantly imbalanced in diabetic patients with uncontrolled preoperative blood glucose than those with well-controlled preoperative blood glucose.