Serum Vascular Adhesion Protein-1 Is Elevated in Acute and Chronic Hyperglycemia.

Diabetic subjects have been found to have low-grade inflammation, which has been thought to result in diabetic complications. Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) is an adhesion molecule participating in inflammation and is elevated in subjects with diabetic complications, such as stroke, retinopathy, and nephropathy. We examined if serum VAP-1 is elevated in hyperglycemic stares. From 2005 to 2006, 386 subjects, including 225 female and 161 male, in Yun-Lin County, Taiwan, with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) < 126mg/dl during screening and did not take medication for diabetes were included. Anthropometric and biochemical profiles were measured. Serum VAP-1 levels were checked by immunofluorometrical method. During oral glucose tolerance test, serum VAP-1 levels were significantly elevated 2 hours after glucose challenge (540±138 vs. 561±119 ng/ml, p=0.0019). Those who had FPG ≥ 126 mg/dl had significantly higher fasting VAP- 1 levels (628±189 ng/ml) than those with impaired fasting glucose (531 ±165 ng/ml) or with normal fasting glucose (540±128 ng/ml, p=0.021 by ANOVA). Fasting VAP-1 levels were elevated in those who had 2-hour post-challenge plasma glucose ≥ 200 mg/dl (617±149 ng/ml) than that in impaired glucose tolerance (533±154 ng/ml) or normal glucose tolerance (531±128 ng/ml, p=0.015 by ANOVA). The average values of fasting and post-challenge VAP-1 were significantly associated to A1c, after adjusting for age and gender (regression coefficient, 35.2, p<0.001). In conclusion, serum VAP-1 levels were elevated in acute and chronic hyperglycemia. Serum VAP-1 may be a novel marker for low-grade inflammation in diabetic subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]