Study of neuregulin-4 levels in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Neuregulin-4 is a recently recognized adipokine acting as ligands to tyrosine kinases receptor of the Erb B family. This adipose tissue augmented endocrine factor participates in the modulation of lipid and glucose metabolism and energy homeostasis. This novel adipokine is associated with insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, obesity, oxidative stress, and inflammation.

Objective: The study aimed to compare plasma levels of neuregulin-4 in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus as compared to matched controls and to correlate with glycemic and lipid parameters.

Materials And Methods: 100 newly diagnosed T2DM patients and 100 age, sex, and BMI-matched controls after fulfilling all exclusion and inclusion criteria were included in the study. Fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and fasting plasma insulin levels were measured in both cases and controls. HOMA-IR values in both groups were calculated using fasting glucose and insulin levels.

Results: Mean levels of plasma neuregulin-4(pg/mL) in newly diagnosed T2DM were 7949.76 ± 949.76) pg/ml, which was significantly lower as compared to 9143 ±949.76) pg/ml in the control group (P-value <.0001). In the present study, a significant negative correlation was seen between plasma neuregulin-4 (pg/mL) with fasting blood sugar, postprandial blood sugar, HbA1C, and HOMA-IR with a correlation coefficient of -0.303, -0.416, -0.433, and -0.514, respectively. Moreover, a significant positive correlation was seen between plasma neuregulin-4 (pg/mL) with HDL with a correlation coefficient of 0.216. A significant negative correlation was seen between plasma neuregulin-4 (pg/mL) and LDL, with a correlation coefficient -0.208.

Conclusion: Neuregulin levels are significantly lower in diabetics as compared to controls. There levels correlated inversely with HbA1C and HOMA IR.