ENPP1 K121Q polymorphism is not related to type 2 diabetes mellitus, features of metabolic syndrome, and diabetic cardiovascular complications in a Chinese population.

Background: Ectoenzyme nucleotide pyrophosphate phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1) is known to influence insulin sensitivity by inhibiting insulin receptor signaling. A DNA polymorphism in the ENPP1 gene at exon 4 (K121Q) was demonstrated to be associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and a risk of early myocardial infarction, albeit with controversy. Our aim was to investigate any association of ENPP1 K121Q alleles with T2DM, features of the metabolic syndrome, and diabetic cardiovascular complications in a Chinese population of Han origin.

Elevated plasma level of visfatin/pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Context: Visfatin (also known as pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor or PBEF) is a cytokine that is highly expressed in visceral fat and whose blood levels correlate with obesity. Originally isolated as a secreted factor that promotes the growth of B cell precursors and recently found to act as an insulin analog on the insulin receptor, its pathophysiological role in humans remains largely unknown.

Objectives: In this study we investigated whether plasma visfatin level is altered in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).