Circulating level of TRAIL concentration is positively associated with endothelial function and increased by diabetic therapy in the newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients

SummaryObjectiveTumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL) is associated with atherosclerosis. This study was to investigate the changes of circulating TRAIL and its association with flow‐mediated endothelium‐dependent arterial dilation (FMD) before and after diabetic treatment in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.Materials and MethodsThe study subjects included 55 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes and 52 healthy subjects. Circulating TRAIL concentration was measured by an ELISA, and high‐resolution ultrasound was used to measure FMD of brachial artery.ResultsThe circulating TRAIL in patients before treatment was 64·46 pg/ml, which was significantly lower than that in control (80·70 pg/ml, P < 0·001). After 6 months of diabetic treatment, TRAIL level increased markedly (75·11 pg/ml), which was still lower than that in control (P < 0·001). FMD was reduced compared with controls at baseline and increased after diabetic therapy (P < 0·001). In multivariate analysis, circulating TRAIL was significantly associated with FMD, fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2‐h blood glucose (2‐h BG), haemoglobinA1c (HbA1c) and C‐reactive protein (CRP) at baseline (P < 0·01). The absolute change in TRAIL was correlated with the changes in FMD, FBG, 2‐h BG, HbA1c and CRP (P < 0·01) before and after diabetic treatment.ConclusionCirculating TRAIL level decreased in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes and increased after 6 months of diabetic treatment significantly. The circulating TRAIL level is positively associated with endothelial function. Our data showed that circulating TRAIL level may be a protective maker of endothelial function in type 2 diabetes.