Endocrine Abstracts

Aim: Netrin is classically recognized as a neural guidance cue that has been involved in various tissues including pancreas development. Because of Netrin’s tissue regenerative, angiogenic, and inflammatory suppression properties it could play a crucial role in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The aim of the current study is to investigate the relation between circulating levels of Netrin-1 and the glucose continuum.

Methods: Netrin-1 level was determined using a commercially available human enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was used as an index to measure insulin resistance. The sample consisted of 163 patients with mean age 52.5 ± 11.3 years, divided in three age and BMI matched groups-obesity without carbohydrate disturbances, prediabetes and diabetes. The control group consisted of 42 healthy individuals.

Results: The Netrin-1 levels were significantly lower in patients with obesity, prediabetes and newly diagnosed diabetes compared to the control group (0.12 ± 0.04 vs 0.19 ± 0.07; 0.13 ± 0.04 vs 0.19 ± 0.07; 0.13 ± 0.05 vs 0.19 ± 0.07; P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that the level of netrin–1 were negatively correlated with LDL, TG, GGT and visceral adiposity tissue.

Conclusion: The levels of Netrin-1 were decreased in patients with obesity and carbohydrate disturbances. Further studies will shed light on the role of the biomarker in development of type 2 diabetes and its complications.

Funding: This work was funden by Project №4879/09.07.2018, Contract D–218/12.12.2018 with the financial support of Medical University–Sofia, Bulgaria.