Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 activity in obese adolescents with and without type 2 diabetes

J Inherit Metab Dis. 2018 Jan;41(1):73-79. doi: 10.1007/s10545-017-0100-0. Epub 2017 Oct 13.

Abstract

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) was identified as a strong predictor for cardiovascular events. Furthermore, it is highly associated with obesity. The role of Lp-PLA2 in diabetes mellitus is controversial and analyses, especially in adolescents with type 2 diabetes (T2D), are missing. Therefore, we compared Lp-PLA2 activity between two obese age-, sex-, and BMI-matched cohorts of adolescents with and without T2D. Relationships between Lp-PLA2 activity and age, BMI, hemoglobin A1c, lipids, and adipokines were evaluated. Lp-PLA2 activity was analyzed in serum of 72 obese adolescents without T2D (mean age 15.2 ± 1.6 years) and in 65 obese adolescents with T2D (mean age 15.5 ± 1.8 years). Clinical data were obtained from the Diabetes-Patienten-Verlaufsdokumentation (DPV) registry. Surprisingly, obese adolescents with T2D had lower levels of Lp-PLA2 activity than obese children without T2D (160.2 ± 45.0 versus 180.9 ± 35.6 nmol/min/ml, p = 0.003), but this decrease could only be detected in male (158.8 ± 45.3 versus 190.8 ± 31.3 nmol/min/ml, p < 0.001) and not in female adolescents (162.1 ± 45.5 versus 167.7 ± 37.1 nmol/min/ml, p = 0.60). In multiple linear regression analysis, differences in Lp-PLA2 activity between cohorts remained large and significant (ß-coefficient: -31.60, 95% confidence interval [-49.27;-13.93], p < 0.001). Furthermore, Lp-PLA2 activity was positively associated with BMI (ß-coefficient: 2.04 [0.68;3.40], p = 0.004) and negatively associated with the adipokines leptin (ß-coefficient: -0.53 [-0.89;-0.17], p = 0.004) and adiponectin (ß-coefficient: -3.06, [-5.63;-0.48], p = 0.02). Elevated mean glucose concentrations in adolescents with T2D were not associated with an increase but with a decrease of Lp-PLA2 activity. Hence, in young patients with T2D the Lp-PLA2 activity as a risk predictor for cardiovascular events needs further investigation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase / blood*
  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / diagnosis
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / enzymology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pediatric Obesity / blood
  • Pediatric Obesity / diagnosis
  • Pediatric Obesity / enzymology*
  • Prognosis
  • Registries
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Blood Glucose
  • 1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase
  • PLA2G7 protein, human