Low levels of soluble low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy

• Published in: Experimental eye research 2022-02, Vol.215, p.108921-108921, Article 108921
• Main Authors: Batu Oto, Bilge, Aykut, Veysel, Güneş, Medine, Korkmaz, Rabia, İsman, Ferruh K., Agirbasli, Mehmet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomarker; Biomarkers - metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - metabolism; Diabetic retinopathy; Diabetic Retinopathy - metabolism; Humans; Lipoproteins, LDL - metabolism; Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-1 - metabolism; Serum lipids; Serum LRP-1; sLRP-1
• ISSN: 0014-4835; 1096-0007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2022.108921

Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP-1) is a large transmembrane receptor. LRP-1 plays a role in diverse cellular processes, including lipid metabolism, cell growth, migration, and regeneration. Soluble form of LRP-1 (sLRP-1) can be detected in serum. sLRP-1 can serve as a biomarker of atherosclerosis and cardiometabolic diseases. This study investigated the concentrations of the circulating serum sLRP-1 in patients with retinopathy and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Fifty-two patients with diabetic retinopathy and 71 controls were enrolled based on well-defined eligibility criteria. Venous blood samples were collected after 12 h of fasting. sLRP-1 concentrations were measured using the commercially available ELISA in an accredited laboratory. The mean age of patients and control groups were 63.6 and 48.5 years, respectively. The median disease duration was 8.1 years. The median serum sLRP-1 levels were lower in patients with diabetic retinopathy compared to the controls (2.11 μg/mL versus 2.44 μg/mL, p = 0.034). No significant correlation was observed between the sLRP-1 and serum lipid levels. The sLRP-1 levels are low in patients with diabetic retinopathy compared to healthy controls, and future studies are needed to assess sLRP-1 as a potential biomarker in diabetic retinopathy. •The present study is the first to evaluate the levels of human serum sLRP1 in patients with diabetic retinopathy.•Our findings support that sLRP is associated with end-organ damage in diabetes mellitus.•sLRP1 levels may be used as a biomarker of diabetic retinopathy.