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Association between serum fibroblast growth factor 21 and diabetic nephropathy

Wei-Xia Jian1, Wen-Hui Peng, Jie Jin

  • 1Department of Endocrinology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.

Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental
|December 6, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) is linked to diabetic nephropathy. Higher FGF-21 levels correlate with increased urinary albumin excretion in type 2 diabetes patients, suggesting its involvement in kidney damage.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology and Metabolism
  • Nephrology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) is recognized as a metabolic regulator with demonstrated benefits in animal models of diabetes.
  • Diabetic nephropathy is a significant complication of diabetes mellitus, characterized by kidney damage and albuminuria.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between serum FGF-21 levels and diabetic nephropathy in human subjects.
  • To determine if FGF-21 is independently correlated with urinary albumin excretion (UAE) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Main Methods:

  • Serum FGF-21 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in control subjects and T2DM patients across different stages of albuminuria (normoalbuminuria, microalbuminuria, macroalbuminuria).
  • Multiple linear regression models were employed to analyze the relationship between FGF-21, other biomedical indices, and UAE, adjusting for potential confounders.

Main Results:

  • Median serum FGF-21 levels were significantly elevated in T2DM patients compared to controls.
  • Serum FGF-21 levels showed a positive correlation with the severity of albuminuria, being highest in the macroalbuminuria group.
  • FGF-21, fasting plasma glucose, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were independently associated with UAE in T2DM patients after confounder adjustment.

Conclusions:

  • Circulating FGF-21 levels are independently correlated with urinary albumin excretion in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.
  • These findings suggest that FGF-21 may play a role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.

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