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Relationship between serum levels of angiopoietin-related growth factor and metabolic risk factors
T Ebert1, S Kralisch1, U Loessner1
1Department of Endocrinology and Nephrology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
Abstract:
Angiopoietin-related growth factor (AGF, also known as angiopoietin-like protein 6) has been introduced as a novel hepatocyte-derived factor, which antagonizes obesity and insulin resistance in mice. However, human studies show conflicting results and are limited to a small cohort of patients. In the current study, we therefore sought to investigate AGF serum levels in a large metabolically well-characterized cohort. AGF serum concentrations were determined by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 697 patients of a cohort from Eastern Germany (Sorbs). Correlations of AGF serum levels with clinical and biochemical measures of glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as markers of renal function, were investigated. In nondiabetic subjects (n=627), AGF was positively correlated with markers of insulin resistance and negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in univariate analyses (p<0.05). After adjustment for age, gender, and body mass index, none of these factors remained independently associated with AGF, neither in nondiabetic subjects nor in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (n=70). However, we confirmed existing data of significantly higher AGF concentrations in patients with T2DM as compared to controls in this large cohort. Circulating AGF is elevated in subjects with T2DM and related to the type of antidiabetic treatment, but is not independently associated with anthropometric parameters, indices of insulin sensitivity and secretion, or a number of other adipokines.
Insights
Angiopoietin-related growth factor (AGF) is elevated in type 2 diabetes patients. While AGF correlates with insulin resistance in non-diabetics, this association is not independent of other factors in a large German cohort.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic research
- Endocrinology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Angiopoietin-related growth factor (AGF), also known as angiopoietin-like protein 6, is a hepatocyte-derived factor.
- AGF has shown potential in antagonizing obesity and insulin resistance in mouse models.
- Human studies on AGF have yielded conflicting results and were limited by small sample sizes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum levels of AGF in a large, metabolically characterized cohort.
- To explore the correlations between AGF serum levels and various metabolic and clinical parameters.
- To validate previous findings in a broader human population.
Main Methods:
- Serum AGF concentrations were measured using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
- The study included 697 participants from a cohort in Eastern Germany (Sorbs).
- Statistical analyses investigated correlations with glucose and lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and renal function markers.
Main Results:
- In nondiabetic subjects (n=627), AGF showed positive correlations with insulin resistance markers and negative correlations with HDL cholesterol in univariate analyses.
- After adjusting for age, gender, and BMI, these associations were no longer independent.
- Significantly higher AGF concentrations were confirmed in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (n=70) compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Circulating AGF is elevated in individuals with T2DM and is related to antidiabetic treatment type.
- AGF is not independently associated with anthropometric parameters, insulin sensitivity/secretion indices, or other adipokines in this cohort.
- These findings contribute to understanding the role of AGF in human metabolic disease, particularly T2DM.
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