Andrej Janež

NLRP3 Inflammasome Polymorphism and Macrovascular Complications in Type 2 Diabetes Patients

Background. It is generally accepted that poor glycemic control, arterial hypertension and/or hyperlipidemia, and the associated oxidative stress may contribute to the development of macro- and microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Such metabolic damage signals may activate inflammasome and trigger chronic inflammation. We investigated common polymorphisms in inflammasome coding genes and the risk for macro- and microvascular complications in T2D. Methods. In total 181 clinically well-characterised T2D patients were genotyped for NLRP3 rs35829419 and CARD8 rs2043211. Risk for diabetic complications was assessed using logistic regression. Results. Patients with median duration of T2D 11 (6–17) years had relatively well controlled blood glucose and lipid levels and blood pressure on the prescribed treatment regimen. Duration of T2D and plasma cholesterol levels were the most important clinical risk factors for macrovascular complications (P = 0.007 and P = 0.031). NLRP3 rs35829419 was associated with increased risk for macrovascular complications (P = 0.004), with myocardial infarction in particular (P = 0.052). No association was observed between CARD8 polymorphism and any of T2D complications. Conclusions. Our preliminary data suggest the role of NLRP3 polymorphism in diabetic macrovascular complications, especially in myocardial infarction.

The Role of Genetic Factors and Kidney and Liver Function in Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes Patients on Long-Term Metformin and Sulphonylurea Cotreatment

This study investigated the influence of genetic polymorphisms of metformin transporters on long-term glycemic control and lipid status in type 2 diabetes patients in the everyday clinical setting. In total 135 patients treated with combination of metformin and sulphonylurea for at least 6 months were genotyped for SLC22A1 rs628031 and SLC47A1 rs2289669 polymorphisms. Relatively good blood glucose control with median HbA1c 6.9 (6.4–7.6) % was achieved on prescribed metformin dosage of 2550 (2000–2550) mg per day. Only 28 (20.7%) patients experienced mild hypoglycemia events, while no severe hypoglycemia events were observed. Most patients had normal or mildly impaired renal function. Parameters indicating renal function were not correlated with fasting glucose, HbA1c, or lipid parameters. Rs628031 and rs2289669 had minor allele frequencies of 0.385 and 0.355, respectively, and were not associated with HbA1c levels. Rs628031 was marginally associated with risk for hypoglycemia events (P = 0.046; OR = 0.51; 95% CI 0.26–0.99), while significant correlation was observed between rs2289669 and total cholesterol levels (P = 0.018). In conclusion, in patients on long-term metformin and sulphonylurea combination treatment, metformin transporters polymorphisms do not play a major role in glycemic control; however, they may influence lipid status.

SLC6A4 5HTTLPR Polymorphism Affects Insulin Secretion in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Purpose To investigate in a pilot study of genetic polymorphisms in serotonin system influencing basal- and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods A cross-sectional study included 65 female patients with PCOS followed up at the endocrine outpatient clinic of the University Medical Center Ljubljana and a control group of 94 young healthy female blood donors. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed only in PCOS patients and basal- and glucose-stimulated blood glucose and insulin levels were measured. All the subjects were genotyped for 5HTR1A rs6295, 5HTR1B rs13212041, and SLC6A4 5HTTLPR polymorphisms in the serotonin system. Results Genotype distributions were in accordance with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE), except for 5HTR1A rs6295 in healthy controls and 5HTR1B rs13212041 in PCOS patients that were not consistent with HWE. SLC6A4 5HTTLPR polymorphism was significantly associated with insulin secretion (p = 0.030) and with the area under the curve of insulin blood levels during OGTT (p = 0.021). None of the investigated polymorphisms was significantly associated with basal- or glucose-stimulated blood glucose levels at any point in time during OGTT or with the basal insulin concentration. Conclusions Serotonin system may play a role in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in patients with insulin resistance (IR) and decreased insulin sensitivity. Further studies are needed to conclude whether the observed effect is characteristic for PCOS-related metabolic disturbances or for the identified mutation in different high metabolic risk populations.

Very low-dose fluvastatin-valsartan combination decreases parameters of inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

AIMS Previously we revealed the effectiveness of a new therapeutic approach with a short-term, very-low dose fluvastatin-valsartan combination on the improvement of arterial function in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients (T1DM). In this study we explored whether this approach influences inflammation and oxidative stress and explored any association of these effects with arterial function improvement. METHODS This was a supplementary analysis of the two previous double blind randomized studies (included 44 T1DM patients). Treatment group received very-low dose fluvastatin-valsartan, the control group received placebo. Blood samples were collected and inflammation parameters: high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and oxidative stress parameter total antioxidant status (TAS) were measured. RESULTS Treatment decreased hsCRP values (by 56.5%, P<0.05) and IL-6 values (by 33.6%, P<0.05) and increased TAS values (by 21.1%; P<0.05) after 30days of treatment. High sensitivity CRP and TAS remained decreased 3months after treatment discontinuation. Importantly, the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative action significantly correlated with arterial function improvement. CONCLUSIONS The approach consisting of short-term (30days) treatment with a very low-dose fluvastatin-valsartan combination acts anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative in T1DM patients. These observations along with the improvement of arterial function support the assumption that this approach could have an important clinical benefit in T1DM patients.

Low serum testosterone is associated with impaired graft function early after heart transplantation

We sought to investigate a correlation between serum testosterone levels and graft function early after heart transplantation.