Apoptosis inhibitor sFas expression and acute hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. Apoptosis occuring via Fas/FasL interaction is one from the reasons of macroangiopathy. The soluble receptor Fas (sFas) is thought to be an inhibitor of apoptosis. In type 2 diabetic patients apoptosis is determined by the level of metabolic compensation. The epidemiological studies from last few years revealed that postprandial, so acute, hyperglycemia plays the dominant role in coronary heart disease development. We aimed to evaluate if metabolic control and acute hyperglycemic episodes especially, can influence sFas serum level.
MATERIAL AND METHODS. The total of 49 persons were examined, including 29 type 2 diabetic patients with concomitant coronary heart disease, 10 patients with coronary heart disease only and 10 healthy persons. The plasma level of 1.5-anhydro-D-glucitol was estimated as the marker of acute hyperglycemia. The serum sFas levels were measured together with routine metabolic parameters (fasting glycemia, HbA1c, total cholesterol and HDL, and LDL cholesterol fractions levels, triglyceride serum concentration).
RESULTS. The sFas serum level was significantly higher in patients with diabetes type 2 than in patients with coronary heart disease only and higher than sFas level in controls. The sFas serum concentration in type 2 diabetic patients was correlated only with 1.5-anhydro-D-glucitol concentration.
CONCLUSION. The short-term hyperglycemic episodes, in opposition to chronic hyperglycemia, are related to lower expression of antiapoptotic factor sFas.