Decreased Spexin Levels in Patients with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Spexin is a novel peptide which has a potential role as a biomarker of insulin resistance, diabetes and obesity. We aimed to measure levels of spexin in lean type 1 diabetic patients and its relevance to glycemic parameters without the presence of obesity or insulin resistance.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 29 type 1 and 30 type 2 diabetic patients and a control group of 23 healthy subjects with adjusted age, sex and body mass index (BMI). Height and weight were measured using standard techniques. Glucose levels triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, serum cortisol levels and spexin levels were measured for each patient.

RESULTS: The median fasting serum spexin levels were significantly lower in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes than in control subjects (p = 0.008, p = 0.041, respectively). Spexin levels were not correlated with glycemic parameters, lipids, BMI, cortisol levels and thyroid-stimulating hormone (p > 0.05). Only age turned out to be correlated with spexin levels in patients with type 1 diabetes when groups are analyzed separately. Regression models including age and diabetes duration revealed no association between age and spexin levels. Regression models including cortisol, BMI, HbA1c revealed no association with spexin levels within each group.

CONCLUSION: The presence of type 1 diabetes is associated with lower spexin levels, independent of glucose, lipid parameters and BMI. The expression of spexin in the pancreas apart from current glycemic control of the patients may be the main determinant of spexin levels in type 1 diabetic patients.