Circulating SerpinB1 levels and clinical features in patients with type 2 diabetes

Objective The main purpose of this study was to investigate the association of serum SerpinB1 levels and various parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes. The effect of canagliflozin (a sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor), which can decrease circulating insulin levels, on serum SerpinB1 levels was also investigated. A recent study suggests that the serum levels of SerpinB1, also known as monocyte neutrophil elastase inhibitor, increase with insulin resistance, may have a protective effect for pancreatic β cells, and may decrease insulin resistance. Research design and methods The study included 30 patients with type 2 diabetes hospitalized for glycemic control and 10 control subjects. Results SerpinB1 levels were significantly higher in patients with type 2 diabetes, compared with that in heathy control subjects (10.01±3.59 vs 5.69±1.64 ng/mL, p<0.0001). Serum SerpinB1 levels had a significant negative correlation with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (p=0.0123). Serum SerpinB1 levels had a significant positive association or trend toward a positive association with age and with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and significant negative association with LDL-C levels in some multiple regression analysis models. Patients treated with statins had a tendency toward higher serum SerpinB1 levels, compared with those patients not treated with statins. During a 3-day observation period both with and without canagliflozin treatment, the serum SerpinB1 levels did not change. Conclusions Serum SerpinB1 levels are elevated in patients with type 2 diabetes compared with that in healthy subjects and are negatively correlated with serum LDL-C.