Serum CXC ligand 5 is a new marker of subclinical atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between serum chemokine CXC ligand 5 (CXCL5) and intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery, a marker of preclinical atherosclerosis. DESIGN, PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS: We measured the IMT (mean of three segments of both carotid arteries by ultrasonography), serum CXCL5, fasting plasma glucose, serum insulin, serum urea, serum uric acid, HbA1c, serum CRP, adiponectin and lipid profile of 730 Chinese type 2 diabetic participants older than 30 years in a cross-sectional community-based study performed in downtown Shanghai. RESULTS: Serum CXCL5 correlated with carotid IMT (r = 0·112, P = 0·019) after adjustment for age, gender, serum CRP and HbA1c. Multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated that age (P = 2·30 × 10(-7) ), gender (P = 2·70 × 10(-2) ), systolic blood pressure (P = 9·26 × 10(-3) ), serum CRP (P = 2·12 × 10(-2) ), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 2·40 × 10(-2) ), CXCL5 (P = 5·27 × 10(-3) ) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 3·80 × 10(-3) ) were independently associated with carotid IMT. CONCLUSIONS: Serum CXCL5 is an important determinant of carotid artery IMT in patients with type 2 diabetes. The correlation is independent of inflammation and glucose control.