Study of serum progranulin level and its relation to microvascular complications in subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Background. Progranulin is expressed in various cells

including adipocytes. Having an important role in

inflammation, it could participate to development of

diabetes and its complications. We aimed at assessing

serum progranulin level in subjects with type 1 diabetes

mellitus (T1DM) and its relation to microvascular

complications.

Methods. 80 subjects were included: 40 subjects with

T1DM with a disease duration of more than 5 years, 20

subjects with newly diagnosed T1DM, and 20 healthy

subjects as a control. Microvascular complications were

assessed by clinical examination and investigations.

Results. The mean serum progranulin level was

significantly higher in T1DM subjects with disease

duration more than 5 years (77.2 ± 159.8) and those

with disease duration less than one year (12.8 ± 16.0)

comparing to healthy controls (p = 0.009, p = 0.032,

respectively). However, no significant difference was

found in the mean serum progranulin between the

two diabetic groups (p 0.883). Serum progranulin level

was significantly higher in patients with retinopathy

(p ≤ 0.001), nephropathy (p = 0.002) and neuropathy

(p = 0.007). However, in multivariate regression analysis

serum progranulin was not independently associated

with microvascular complications of diabetes.

Conclusion. Serum progranulin is higher in T1DM than

control and was not independently associated with

diabetic microvascular complications.