Circulating heat shock protein 27 as a novel marker of subclinical atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional community-based study

Abstract

Background Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) has been proposed as a vital protective factor in atherosclerosis. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the association between circulating HSP27 and intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery in individuals with type 2 diabetes and to determine whether HSP27 represents an independent marker for subclinical atherosclerosis in this patient population.Methods We performed a cross-sectional community-based study consisting in 186 Chinese subjects with a median duration of diabetes of 8.2 years who underwent carotid ultrasound IMT measurement.Serum HSP27 levels were assessed by ELISA.Results Serum HSP27 levels were significantly higher in the IMT (+, >1.0 mm) group than in the IMT (-, ≤1.0 mm) group, with the median value of 8.80 ng/mL (5.62-12.25) and 6.93 ng/mL (4.23-9.60), respectively ( P =0.006). The discriminative value of HSP27 to evaluate IMT was 7.16 ng/mL and the area under the curve was 0.72 (95%CI=0.64-0.80, P=0.0065). Spearman's rank correlation analysis demonstrated that the concentrations of circulating HSP27 were positively correlated with carotid IMT ( r =0.198, P =0.007) and blood urea nitrogen ( r =0.170, P <0.05). Furthermore, in the logistic model, serum HSP27 levels were found to be independent predictors of carotid IMT in type 2 diabetic patients after adjustment for onset age of diabetes, blood pressure, total cholesterol and C-reactive protein. (OR=1.085, P =0.022).Conclusions Circulating HSP27 level positively correlates with carotid IMT, is an independent predictor for early atherosclerotic changes in diabetes, and may represent a novel marker of subclinical atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes.