Extracellular matrix proteins as risk markers for complications in type 1 diabetes

Kidney fibrosis, characterised by impaired extracellular matrix remodelling and excessive collagen deposition, is a hallmark of chronic kidney disease in diabetes. We investigated whether biomarkers reflecting collagen formation and degradation were associated with complications in type 1 diabetes.

In this observational cohort study, markers of collagen type III (PRO-C3), VII (PRO-C7) and XXVIII (PRO-C28) formation and collagen type III degradation (CTX-III) were measured in serum by ELISA. Associations between baseline biomarker levels and a composite kidney endpoint, all-cause mortality, albuminuria progression and cardiovascular events were tested using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for traditional risk factors. Hazard ratios (HRs) are reported per 1-SD increase in log₂-transformed biomarker levels.

Over a median follow-up of 6.3 (IQR: 5.9-6.7) years, 125 of 662 participants experienced the composite kidney endpoint, 58 participants died, 102 progressed in albuminuria and 94 developed a cardiovascular event. Higher baseline levels of PRO-C3 were associated with the development of the composite kidney endpoint (adjusted HR: 1.30, 95% CI 1.08-1.57, p < 0.01) and mortality (adjusted HR: 1.36, 95% CI 1.06-1.76, p = 0.016). No associations were found between PRO-C3 and albuminuria progression or cardiovascular events. PRO-C7, PRO-C28 and CTX-III were not associated with any of the endpoints.

Higher baseline serum PRO-C3, a marker of collagen type III formation and fibrogenesis, was associated with an increased risk of developing the composite kidney endpoint and all-cause mortality in individuals with type 1 diabetes.