open access

Vol 72, No 5 (2021)
Original paper
Submitted: 2021-02-10
Accepted: 2021-05-06
Published online: 2021-05-31
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Serum zonulin levels in type 2 diabetes patients with diabetic kidney disease

Fevziye Burcu Sirin1, Hakan Korkmaz2, Ismet Eroglu3, Barıs Afsar4, Duygu Kumbul Doguc1
·
Pubmed: 34057189
·
Endokrynol Pol 2021;72(5):545-549.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Türkiye
  2. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Türkiye
  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Isparta State Hospital, Isparta, Türkiye
  4. Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Türkiye

open access

Vol 72, No 5 (2021)
Original Paper
Submitted: 2021-02-10
Accepted: 2021-05-06
Published online: 2021-05-31

Abstract

Introduction: Recent data have shown that diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is associated with abnormal gut microbiota composition. Zonulin is a physiological tight junction modulator and an intestinal permeability marker. In this study we aimed to investigate serum levels of zonulin and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and different levels of albuminuria.

Material and methods: Ninety patients with T2DM and 30 healthy controls (HC) aged between 18 and 65 years were enrolled in the study. T2DM patients were divided into three groups as patients with normoalbuminuria (n = 30), microalbuminuria (n = 30), and macroalbuminuria (n = 30). Serum zonulin and IL-6 levels were measured by ELISA method.

Results: There was no significant difference between groups in terms of age, gender, serum ALT, LDL-C, HDL-C, and zonulin levels (p > 0.05). Significant differences between groups were present for the duration of diabetes (p < 0.001), body mass index (p < 0.001), fasting blood glucose (p < 0.001), creatinine (p < 0.001), uric acid (p = 0.037), triglyceride (p = 0.003), total cholesterol (p < 0.001), glycated haemoglobin (p < 0.001), and IL-6 (p < 0.001) levels. IL-6 levels were significantly increased in the microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria groups compared to the HC group, but no significant difference was determined between the HC and normoalbuminuria group. In patients with diabetic kidney disease, a significant positive correlation was found between zonulin with IL-6 and proteinuria (rho = 0.296, p = 0.008; rho = 0.190, p < 0.047, respectively). The serum IL-6 level was positively correlated with microalbuminuria and proteinuria (rho = 0.451, p < 0.001; rho = 0.425, p < 0.001, respectively). 

Conclusions: We suggest that the serum zonulin level is not a promising biomarker to assess the severity of DKD in patients with long-standing T2DM.

Abstract

Introduction: Recent data have shown that diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is associated with abnormal gut microbiota composition. Zonulin is a physiological tight junction modulator and an intestinal permeability marker. In this study we aimed to investigate serum levels of zonulin and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and different levels of albuminuria.

Material and methods: Ninety patients with T2DM and 30 healthy controls (HC) aged between 18 and 65 years were enrolled in the study. T2DM patients were divided into three groups as patients with normoalbuminuria (n = 30), microalbuminuria (n = 30), and macroalbuminuria (n = 30). Serum zonulin and IL-6 levels were measured by ELISA method.

Results: There was no significant difference between groups in terms of age, gender, serum ALT, LDL-C, HDL-C, and zonulin levels (p > 0.05). Significant differences between groups were present for the duration of diabetes (p < 0.001), body mass index (p < 0.001), fasting blood glucose (p < 0.001), creatinine (p < 0.001), uric acid (p = 0.037), triglyceride (p = 0.003), total cholesterol (p < 0.001), glycated haemoglobin (p < 0.001), and IL-6 (p < 0.001) levels. IL-6 levels were significantly increased in the microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria groups compared to the HC group, but no significant difference was determined between the HC and normoalbuminuria group. In patients with diabetic kidney disease, a significant positive correlation was found between zonulin with IL-6 and proteinuria (rho = 0.296, p = 0.008; rho = 0.190, p < 0.047, respectively). The serum IL-6 level was positively correlated with microalbuminuria and proteinuria (rho = 0.451, p < 0.001; rho = 0.425, p < 0.001, respectively). 

Conclusions: We suggest that the serum zonulin level is not a promising biomarker to assess the severity of DKD in patients with long-standing T2DM.

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Keywords

type 2 diabetes mellitus; diabetic kidney disease; intestinal permeability; zonulin; inflammation

About this article
Title

Serum zonulin levels in type 2 diabetes patients with diabetic kidney disease

Journal

Endokrynologia Polska

Issue

Vol 72, No 5 (2021)

Article type

Original paper

Pages

545-549

Published online

2021-05-31

Page views

7220

Article views/downloads

849

DOI

10.5603/EP.a2021.0056

Pubmed

34057189

Bibliographic record

Endokrynol Pol 2021;72(5):545-549.

Keywords

type 2 diabetes mellitus
diabetic kidney disease
intestinal permeability
zonulin
inflammation

Authors

Fevziye Burcu Sirin
Hakan Korkmaz
Ismet Eroglu
Barıs Afsar
Duygu Kumbul Doguc

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