Plasma levels of adiponectin and chemerin are associated with early stage of atherosclerosis in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE: Adipokines, such as adiponectin and chemerin, regulate fat metabolism and are critical for the development of atherosclerosis. Investigating the correlations of adiponectin and chemerin with atherosclerosis in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) will shed light on the search for new markers for early diagnosis of diabetic atherosclerosis. METHODS: A total of 120 older T2DM patients and nine healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The clinical parameters, such as brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV), adiponectin, and chemerin, were examined and recorded. T2DM subjects were divided into three groups according to ba-PWV level (high, medium, or low). The data were processed and analyzed by identical methods. RESULTS: Significantly higher chemerin and lower adiponectin levels were detected in the plasma of T2DM patients than in healthy controls. The plasma levels of chemerin and adiponectin were negatively correlated in T2DM patients. Moreover, chemerin and adiponectin were significantly correlated with body mass index, ankle-brachial index, insulin, and ba-PWV. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that chemerin and adiponectin were independently affecting ba-PWV. CONCLUSION: Adiponectin and chemerin are potential markers for diagnosis and monitoring of early stage of atherosclerosis in older adults with T2DM. Further clinical investigations are required to confirm these markers.