Abstract
Background
Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) has been proposed as a vital protective factor in atherosclerosis. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the association between circulating HSP27 and intima–media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery in individuals with type 2 diabetes and to determine whether HSP27 represents an independent marker for subclinical atherosclerosis in this patient population.
Methods
We performed a cross-sectional community-based study consisting in 186 Chinese subjects with a median duration of diabetes of 8.2 years who underwent carotid ultrasound IMT measurement. Serum HSP27 levels were assessed by ELISA.
Results
Serum HSP27 levels were significantly higher in the IMT (+, >1.0 mm) group than in the IMT (-, ≤1.0 mm) group, with the median value of 8.80 ng/mL (5.62–12.25) and 6.93 ng/mL (4.23–9.60), respectively ( P =0.006). The discriminative value of HSP27 to evaluate IMT was 7.16 ng/mL and the area under the curve was 0.72 (95%CI=0.64–0.80, P=0.0065). Spearman's rank correlation analysis demonstrated that the concentrations of circulating HSP27 were positively correlated with carotid IMT ( r =0.198, P =0.007) and blood urea nitrogen ( r =0.170, P <0.05). Furthermore, in the logistic model, serum HSP27 levels were found to be independent predictors of carotid IMT in type 2 diabetic patients after adjustment for onset age of diabetes, blood pressure, total cholesterol and C-reactive protein. (OR=1.085, P =0.022).
Conclusions
Circulating HSP27 level, positively correlates with carotid IMT, is an independent predictor for early atherosclerotic changes in diabetes, and may represent a novel marker of subclinical atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes.
The therapeutic potential of heat shock protein 72 in mice model of type 2 diabetes
