Background
The ATP Binding Cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) transports free cholesterol to nascent high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and maintains plasma HDL levels. In mice, ABCA1 is essential in regulating intracellular cholesterol homeostasis and insulin secretion in the β cell. The role of ABCA1 in human glucose metabolism is unclear.
Objective and methods
To assess the effects of ABCA1 dysfunction on glucose homeostasis in humans
, we matched heterozygous carriers of disruptive mutations in ABCA1 and non-carriers for age, gender and BMI and performed oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT; 9 vs. 8 respectively) and hyperglycemic clamping experiments (6 vs. 6).
Results
Carriers had lower HDL-C levels than non-carriers (0.58 ± 0.3 vs. 1.46 ± 0.4 mmol/L, p=0.001) but LDL-C did not differ (3.4 ± 1.0 vs. 2.8 ± 0.8 mmol/L, p=0.21). Fasting plasma glucose was not different (5.2 ± 1.5 vs. 5.0 ± 0.4 mmol/L). Glucose curves after OGTT were significantly higher in carriers than in non-carriers (genotype * time interaction, p=0.005; plasma glucose at t=60 min 9.0 ± 3.0 mmol/L vs. 6.0 ± 1.4 mmol/L respectively, p=0.02). During hyperglycemic clamps, carriers showed a lower first phase insulin and C-peptide response than non-carriers (genotype * time interaction, p<0.05 and p<0.01 respectively; insulin at t=5 min 164±118 vs. 352 ±141 pmol/L, p<0.05; C-peptide at t=5 min 1033 ± 628 vs. 1942 ± 723 pmol/L, p<0.05) but no difference in insulin sensitivity index (0.0216 ± 0.012 mg kg
−1
. min
−1
. pM
−1
for carriers and 0.0197 ± 0.005 mg kg
−1
. min
−1
. pM
−1
for non-carriers; p=0.73). Disposition index - a measure of β cell function, adjusted for insulin sensitivity - was lower in carriers than in non-carriers (1037 ± 610 vs. 2718 ± 1524; p<0.05). Non-carriers responded to an arginine stimulus with an increase in C-peptide levels (from 3558 ± 1240 pM to 6817 ± 1665 pM; p<0.005), whereas in carriers this increase did not reach statistical significance (from 3727 ± 1843 pM to 5480 ± 1757 pM; p=0.12).
Conclusion
Carriers of loss-of-function mutations in ABCA1 show impaired insulin secretion without insulin resistance, resulting in glucose intolerance. Our data confirm previous studies in mice and provide evidence for a role of ABCA1 in β cell dysfunction and the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus in man.
Role Of C- Peptide As A Biomarker For Diabetes – A Mini Review