Abstract

Recent evidence suggests that serum secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (SFRP4) may affect β-cell function in diabetic patients. SFRP4 is highly expressed in the pancreatic islets, and its levelincreases several years before diabetes diagnosis. 503 patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and normal glucose tolerance (NGT) were investigated to study the relationship between SFRP4 levels and the first-phase of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, glucose metabolism and inflammation along with chronic ailments like hypertension, renal disease and cardio vascular problems. Majority of the patients belong to the low socio-economic groups of age groups 30-60 years. Among the 503 participants, 407 were males and 96 were females. The following parameters: Waist Hip Ratio, Blood Pressure, FBS (Fasting Blood Sugar), PPBS (Post Prandial Blood Sugar) ECG (Electrocardiogram) were also measured in the study. With reference to prior literature of data concerned with diabetes and normal people. SFRP4 levels were measured by ELISA. SFRP4 levels were associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Further research is warranted to assess whether SFRP4 estimation will be a useful tool to detect the diabetes in the early stage in general population.

Keywords & Abbreviations

Diabetes, IGT: impaired glucose tolerance, NGT: normal glucose tolerance, SFRP4: secreted frizzled-related protein,T2DM: type 2 diabetes, ELISA.

Introduction

Comparison and estimation of SFRP4 biomarker to identify the high-risk individuals are to be targeted for the prevention of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is in the early stages of research. The secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (SFRP4) is highly expressed in the pancreatic islets, and its levels increases several years before diabetes diagnosis. The main feature and importance of this SFRP4 is more on T2DM patients suggesting that SFRP4 may have a role in glucose metabolism. The receptors for SFRP4 have been found in many organs of our body including pancreatic β cell and its effects on metabolism and regulating the body weight. With reference to previous researches concerning with diabetes and normal diabetes patients, we need to step further to next generations [1-2].

Materials and Methods

A total of 503 patientswere included in the study, of which 407 were males and 96 were females. The study included studying the following parameters: Blood pressure, FBS (Fasting blood sugar), PPBS (Post prandial blood sugar) ECG (Electrocardiogram). In the ASSAY TECHNIQUE, BGMLT ELISA KIT was used for quantitative determination of SFRP4. By using quantitative sandwich enzyme immune assay technique the SFRP4 level was estimated.

Results

The diabetes and normal patients information were collected from 503 participant sand were analyzed using statistical program SPSS 15.0 and the descriptive statistics for the qualitative and quantitative parameters. The details are presented in Table 1 and Table 2. Chi-square test was used to find the association between morbidity and SFRP4 abnormality with 5% level of significance. The values presented, are within parentheses represents the percentages. In the present study, the majority 407 (80.9% of them were males compared to 96(19.1%) females ranging between the age group of 30 to 60 years with a proportion of 344 (68.4%) abnormal waist hip ratio. Mean±SE (Mean) of SBP/DBP were observed to be 125.3±0.6 / 80.3±0.4 and the fasting glucose as 93.8±0.6 with a post pron dial 139.7±0.9.

A high level of SFRP4 level was observed among them was 38.5±0.6. The Prevalence of diabetes and normal diabetes subjects were 18 (3.6%), hypertension 29(5.8%) and a negligible case of 1(0.2%) with both conditions by attaining our first objective.

Discussion and Conclusion

In all diabetes and normal population study, especially in Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu, India the females outnumbered male in getting T2DM whereas in this study, the male outnumbered females around 80.9%. In the case of SFRP4 male patients outnumbered the females patients. Similarly 503 patients were recruited as they were known to be prone for diabetic and metabolic syndrome which were always high. In this study, 76% of the patients were in the age group of 41-60 years.

In this location of study majority of the patients were of short stature. The diabetes patients in our this study had a waist hip ratio >1 i.e 68.4% (344) With reference to hypertension, this study revealed systolic hypertension around 18.3 % and diastolic hypertension around 26.2%

In this study, among the diabetes and normal patients, with same age group in this district around 70% had T2DM where as in this study, none of them showed any frank diabetes and just around 2% were showing pre-diabetic level symptoms. In strict sense no one has Diabetes. After considering all the parameters especially none of were diabetic. Further study on the estimation of SFRP4, revealed around 96.4% people showing higher level of SFRP4 (more than 15 pg). Only 3.6% levels were low (less than 5 pg). These results correlate with the pre-diabetic patients. Previous studies revealed that in diabetes patients with normal patients had low SFRP4 level. In the present study, SFRP4 levels were high compared to the previous studies. In conclusion, SFRP4 plays a vital role in preventing the diabetes, probably by means of insulin secretion and sensitization, through SFRP4. SFRP4 secretions were associated with a higher risk of developing T2DM. Further research is warranted to assess whether SFRP4 estimation will be a useful tool to detect the early diabetes of next generation in general population [3-8].

References

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