To compare circulating pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF)
levels in type 2 diabetes patients (T2D) with and without
metabolic syndrome (MetS+/-) to healthy controls and assess
PEDF association with plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)
and von Willebrand factor (vWF) as markers of endothelial
dysfunction. Fifty T2D individuals and forty healthy controls were
included. PEDF, PAI-1, vWF, anthropological parameters, lipids,
and markers of insulin resistance were investigated in all
subjects. Compared to controls only MetS+ diabetics had higher
PEDF levels [14.2 (10.2-16.0) mg/l vs. 11.1 (8.6-14.4) mg/l;
p<0.05]. PEDF significantly correlated: positively with body mass
index (ρ=0.25), smoking (ρ=0.21), C-reactive protein (ρ=0.22),
triglycerides (ρ=0.38), non-HDL-cholesterol (ρ=0.39),
apolipoprotein B (ρ=0.38), fasting glucose (ρ=0.22), glycated
hemoglobin (ρ=0.24), C-peptide (ρ=0.28), insulin (ρ=0.26); and
negatively with HDL-cholesterol (ρ=-0.42) and apolipoprotein A1
(ρ=-0.27). Independent association of PEDF with vWF in
T2DMetS- subjects was found. Significantly elevated PEDF in
T2DMet+ patients and its association with adverse metabolic
profile confirmed PEDF as a marker of insulin resistance.
Negative independent association of PEDF with vWF in T2DMetSpatients may reveal its angio-protective role.