Background Adiponectin is an adipokine with insulin-sensitising and anti-atherogenic properties. The aim of this study was to investigate whether low adiponectin levels predict the impairment of endothelial function in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients in an 8-year prospective study. Methods In the prospective study, we enrolled 133 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients without subclinical atherosclerosis and gave them intensive therapy; the mean treatment period was 8 years. Intensive treatment was a stepwise implementation of behavior modification and pharmacological therapy targeting hyperglycaemia, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and obesity. We measured baseline circulating adiponectin with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation by high-resolution vascular ultrasound. At year 8, 102 patients were reexamined for endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation. Results Sex-adjusted adiponectin level was positively correlated with endothelium-independent vasodilation both at baseline （r=0.150, P=0.043） and at year 8 （r=0.339, P=0.001）, whereas no association was found between adiponectin and endothelium-dependent vasodilation. In a stepwise multivariate linear regression model, adiponectin was an independent predictor for impaired endothelium-independent vasodilation at year 8 （P=0.001）. Conclusions Plasma adiponectin concentration was associated with endothelium-independent vasodilation and hypoadiponectinemia predicted the impairment of endothelium-independent vasodilation in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients under multifactorial intervention. These data support the causative link of impairment of endothelium-independent vasodilation with hypoadiponectinemia.
LI Hui XIAO Yang LIU Hui CHEN Xiao-yan LI Xin-ying TANG Wei-li LIU Shi-ping XU Ai-min ZHOU Zhi-guang
MicroRNAs （miRNAs） are a series of conserved, short, non-coding RNAs that modulate gene expression in a posttranscriptional manner, miRNAs are involved in almost every physiological and pathological process. Type 1 diabetes （TID） is an autoimmune disease that is the result of selective destruction of pancreatic p-cells driven by the immune system, miRNAs are also important participants in TID pathogenesis. Herein, we review the most recent data on the potential involvement of miRNAs in TID. Specifically, we focus on two aspects： the roles of miRNAs in maintaining immune homeostasis and regulating β-cell survival and/or functions in TID. We also discuss circulating miRNAs as potent biomarkers for the diagnosis and prediction of TID and investigate potential therapeutic approaches for this disease.
