The correlation of inflammatory markers and plasma vaspin levels in patients with diabetic nephropathy

Vaspin, a recently identified adipokine, is a visceral adipose tissue-derived serine protease inhibitor that may have insulin sensitizing effect on adipose tissue. Herein, we measured vaspin level in patients with different stages of diabetic nephropathy (DNP), and investigated the correlation of the vaspin level with other inflammatory parameters. 106 adult type 2 diabetic patients with no known chronic inflammatory disease were included and grouped according to the stage of DNP: Albuminuria <30mg/day and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)>60mL/min/1.73m(2) (Group-1); albuminuria 30-300mg/day and eGFR >60mL/min/1.73m(2) (Group-2); albuminuria >300mL/min and eGFR <60mL/min/1.73m(2) (Group-3). Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were recorded as well as vaspin, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin (IL)-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- levels. There were 38, 35 and 33 patients in Group 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Groups were similar regarding age and gender. Vaspin level did not differ between groups. When all the groups were considered, vaspin was positively correlated with IL-6 level (r=0.215, p=0.041). No correlation of vaspin was found with IL-1, TNF- and hsCRP levels (p=0.580, r=0.054; p=0.463, r=0.072; p=0.812, r=0.025, respectively). Vaspin levels of the patients with GFR 60mL/min/1.73m(2) was less than that of patients with GFR <60mL/min/1.73m(2) (p=0.03). Age and IL-6 were found to be the major determinants of vaspin level with linear regression analysis. In patients with DNP, vaspin level does not change within the early stages of DNP; while it is higher in patients with decreased GFR, which may be related with increasing inflammation regardless of the stage of the kidney disease.