Higher Serum Asprosin Level is Associated with Urinary Albumin Excretion and Renal Function in Type 2 Diabetes

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.