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Elevated plasma endothelin in patients with diabetes mellitus
K Takahashi1, M A Ghatei, H C Lam
1Department of Medicine, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
Diabetologia
|May 1, 1990
Summary
Plasma concentrations of endothelin (a vasoconstrictor peptide) are significantly elevated in patients with diabetes mellitus. This finding suggests endothelin may indicate and worsen vascular complications in diabetes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Endocrinology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Endothelin is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide produced by vascular endothelial cells.
- Elevated endothelin levels are implicated in various cardiovascular diseases.
- The role of endothelin in diabetes mellitus remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure plasma endothelin concentrations in patients with diabetes mellitus.
- To investigate the relationship between endothelin levels and clinical parameters in diabetes.
- To characterize the molecular forms of endothelin in diabetic plasma.
Main Methods:
- Radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used to quantify plasma endothelin levels.
- 100 patients with diabetes mellitus and 19 healthy subjects were included.
- Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) analyzed endothelin molecular forms.
Main Results:
- Plasma immunoreactive-endothelin was significantly higher in diabetic patients (1,880 +/- 120 fmol/l) compared to healthy controls (540 +/- 50 fmol/l).
- Elevated endothelin did not correlate with blood pressure, renal disease, retinopathy, or glycemic control.
- FPLC revealed three endothelin forms in diabetic plasma, including endothelin-1, while controls showed only a large molecular weight form.
Conclusions:
- Diabetic patients exhibit markedly elevated plasma endothelin levels.
- The increase in endothelin is independent of common diabetes complications and glycemic control.
- Elevated endothelin may serve as a marker for, and contribute to, vascular disease in diabetes.