Association of Netrin-1 and Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Introduction: Insulin deficiency and Insulin resistance leads to one of the metabolic disorder like Diabetes mellitus.Netrin 1 could be a promising biomarker in predicting Diabetes Mellitus subjects.Aim of the study were to compare serum  Netrin-1  levels in with and without type 2 diabetics, To correlate  between Netrin-1  levels and various insulin resistance models and to assess whether netrin 1 could be a sensitive and specific marker to predict patients with DM.

Methods:A cross-sectional pilot study included forty type 2 diabetics either age or gender matched.serum Fasting plasma glucose,insulin and netrin levels were measured using ELISA method.Various IR models were calculated using suitable formulae. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 16.

Results: Serum Netrin levels were low in cases compare to controls(P =0.76). Insulin levels were significantly low in DM when compare with controls(P= 0.03).Patients with Diabetic Mellitus have low HOMA B cell and HOMA 1% B cell levels (p<0.0001) compare with non-diabetic. QUICKI was significantly low in diabetes mellitus(p=0.0063). QUICKI and  Netrin levels showed a positive correlation (r=0.4249, p=0.0059). Linear regression analysis showed a significant (p<0.0001) association between netrin and HOMA-IR as well as FBS.

Conclusion:Netrin levels were eventhough insignificant,,decreased in diabetics. Significant positive correlation between insulin sensitivity and netrin suggests a protective role of netrin.Netrin may not be individually a sensitive and specific marker to predict diabetes,but along with IR,netrin may be a good marker .