Basal C-peptide Level as a Surrogate Marker of Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Type 2 Diabetic Patients.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have revealed that C-peptide induces smooth muscle cell proliferation and causes human atherosclerotic lesions in diabetic patients. The present study was designed to examine whether the basal C-peptide levels correlate with cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.
METHODS: Data was obtained from 467 patients with T2DM from two institutions who were followed for four years. The medical findings of all patients were reviewed, and patients with creatinine >1.4 mg/dL, any inflammation or infection, hepatitis, or type 1 DM were excluded. The relationships between basal C-peptide and other clinical values were statistically analyzed.
RESULTS: A simple correlation was found between basal C-peptide and components of metabolic syndrome (MS). Statistically basal C-peptide levels were significantly higher than the three different MS criteria used in the present study, the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) of the National Cholesterol Education Program's (NCEP's), World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria (NCEP-ATP III, P=0.001; IDF, P<0.001; WHO, P=0.029). The multiple regression analysis between intima-media thickness (IMT) and clinical values showed that basal C-peptide significantly correlated with IMT (P=0.043), while the analysis between the 10-year coronary heart disease risk by the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study risk engine and clinical values showed that basal C-peptide did not correlate with IMT (P=0.226).
CONCLUSION: Basal C-peptide is related to cardiovascular predictors (IMT) of T2DM, suggesting that basal C-peptide does provide a further indication of cardiovascular disease.

INTRODUCTION

Diabetic subjects show a remarkable increase in cardiovascular complications, including myocardial infarctions and strokes, which are responsible for the majority of morbidity and mortality [1]. Many individual biomarkers, such as fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, uric acid, intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery, Framingham Risk Score (FRS), and the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) risk engine have been used as predictors of cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients. However, the predictive values of biomarkers have not been thoroughly studied [2].

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by variable degrees of insulin resistance, impaired insulin secretion, and increased glucose production [3]. The increases in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality appear to relate to the synergism of degree of insulin resistance and hyperglycemia, even pre-diabetes [4]. Insulin resistance, as reflected by elevated serum insulin level, is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular complications in individuals with and without DM. Serum C-peptide is not as well extracted by the liver and, due to the linearity of its kinetics, reflects the true pancreatic secretion of insulin [5,6].

The currently available information establishes that C-peptide is not as biologically inert as previously believed. Instead, C-peptide is emerging as an active peptide hormone with potentially important physiological effects. In recent studies, the foregoing considerations have dealt primarily with the macrovascular complications of diabetes, with elevated levels of C-peptide being the main focus [7]. However, this concept remains controversial and few studies have reported the relationship between serum C-peptide and chronic complications of diabetes. Therefore, the authors of the present study hypothesized that basal C-peptide levels can be used as a cardiovascular predictor in T2DM patients.

The present study was designed to examine whether the basal C-peptide level correlates with cardiovascular risk in T2DM patients via comparison with IMT, the 10-year coronary heart disease (CHD) risk by UKPDS engine and the metabolic syndrome (MS) components.

METHODS

Study population

From October 2005 to June 2009, data was obtained from 1,097 patients with DM who were hospitalized due to various reasons in two university hospitals in Chungcheongnam Province and Jeju Island, Republic of Korea (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1

Enrollment and exclusions. From October 2005 to June 2009, data was obtained from 1,097 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), who were hospitalized in one of two university hospitals in Chungcheongnam Province and Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. Among the 1,097 participants, 630 with serum creatinine >1.4 mg/dL, DM foot, an inflammatory or infectious disease, hepatitis, or type 1 DM were excluded. The final sample for the analyses was comprised of 467 participants.

Among the 1,097 participants, 630 with serum creatinine >1.4 mg/dL, DM foot, any inflammatory and infection diseases (urinary tract infection, upper respiratory infection), hepatitis or type 1 DM (basal C-peptide<0.5, elevated serum ketone level, and autoimmune islet antibody positive) were excluded. In addition, 23 participants with missing data for markers of the exclusion criteria and 20 participants with missing data for the traditional risk factors were excluded. The final sample for the analyses was comprised of 467 participants with T2DM (mean age, 56.75±14.28 years; M:F=213:254).

Data collection and assays

All subjects underwent a clinical examination. Blood samples from patients for all biochemical evaluations were collected after an overnight fast. Concentrations of lipids, glucose, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, homocysteine, fibrinogen and routine chemical markers were measured using the standard laboratory techniques.

Glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were measured using enzymatic methods (AU 5400; Olympus, Melville, NY, USA). Serum C-peptide levels were assessed using radioimmunoassay (SR 300; STRATEC, Birkenfeld, Germany). The intra-assay coefficient of variation (CV) was 1.78% and the inter-assay CV was 9.25%. The two institutes had the same models of laboratory instruments with the same CV values.

Waist circumference (at the midpoint between the anterior superior iliac crest and the lowest rib) was obtained by trained researchers using standard techniques. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Blood pressure was recorded in duplicate after 5 minutes of rest using random-zero sphygmomanometers.

The 10-year CHD risk according to the UKPDS risk engine and IMT of the left carotid artery

The 10-year CHD (non-fatal and fatal CHD) risk was calculated for each patient using the UKPDS risk engine (version 2.0 for Windows, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK) with admission demographics and fasting lipid profiles. The risk predictors used were age, duration of diabetes, gender, atrial fibrillation, ethnicity, smoking status, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), systolic blood pressure (SBP), TC, and HDL.

The IMT of the left carotid artery was measured by an expert radiologist on the far wall of the distal common carotid artery using a 12 MHz linear probe. Carotid ultrasound, followed by a duplex color Doppler examination, was performed with a GE LogiQ9 (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI, USA) and a linear probe of 7.5 to 12 MHz while the patient was in a supine position. Both left and right common carotid arteries were analyzed. Multiple measurements of the distal wall from anterior, lateral, and posterior longitudinal projections were recorded. Maximal IMT was measured in two segments of 1 cm each, from the flow divider caudally (carotid bulb) and from the beginning of the common carotid bulb (common carotid). The IMT value was calculated as an arithmetical mean from the bulb and common carotid segments of both sides. The IMT measurement was performed in hospitalized patients in Chungcheongnam province.

Definition of MS

Metabolic syndrome was defined according to criteria of the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP's), World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).

The WHO criteria [8] for MS required the presence of DM or impaired fasting plasma glucose (FPG ≥110 mg/dL) and at least two of the following components: 1) diagnosed with hypertension or blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg; 2) dyslipidemia: TG ≥150 mg/dL or HDL ≤40 mg/dL (male), ≤50 mg/dL (female); 3) central obesity: waist-hip ratio >0.90 (male); >0.85 (female), or BMI ≥30 kg/m2; or 4) microalbuminuria: urinary albumin to creatinine ratio ≥30 mg/g. The modified ATP III definition of MS [9] required the presence of at least three or more of the following five components: 1) elevated waist circumference ≥90 cm (male), ≥80 cm (female); 2) elevated TG >150 mg/dL (1.695 mmol/L); 3) reduced HDL<40 mg/dL (male), <50 mg/dL (female); 4) hypertension or elevated blood pressure ≥130/85 mm Hg; or 5) diabetes or elevated FPG ≥5.6 mmol/L. The 2006 IDF definition classified a person with MS in the same way as did ATP III but required the presence of central adiposity (elevated waist circumference) as an essential component [10].

Statistical analysis

A statistical analysis was performed with the PASW statistics, version 18.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The differences between continuous variables between groups were compared using ANOVA and the independent t-test. Pearson's product-moment correlation was used for analysis between the basal C-peptide level and MS components. Multiple regression analysis was used for analysis of the relationship among the IMT, 10-year CHD risk by the UKPDS risk engine, and clinical variables. Differences were considered statistically significant when P<0.05.

RESULTS

General and biochemical characteristics

General and biochemical characteristics of the 467 study subjects (213 men, 254 women) are presented in Table 1. The mean age of the subjects was 56.75±14.28 years, and the age range was 16-92 years. A total of 413 (67%) subjects from the base population of 467 were identified as having MS. The 10-year CHD risk according to the UKPDS risk engine was 18.36±1.51%, and IMT of the left carotid artery was 0.82±0.34 mm.

Table 1

Clinical characteristics of T2DM patients according to C-peptide tertile

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation or number (%).

P value was analyzed using ANOVA.

T2DM, type 2 diabetes mellitus; BMI, body mass index; HbA1c, glycated hemoglobin; FBS, fasting blood sugar; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; TC, total cholesterol; TG, triglyceride; HDL-C, high density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low density lipoprotein cholesterol; CHD, coronary heart disease; UKPDS, United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study; IMT, intima-media thickness.

aThis value means the percentage of ex- and current-smokers, bValues were non-fatal and fatal CHD risk calculated according to the UKPDS risk engine, cP values<0.05.

The mean patient BMI was 24.47±4.17 kg/m2, and overweight but not obese subjects were also included. The mean DM duration was 8.22±7.63 years, and the mean value was 9.88±2.67%.

Clinical characteristics of T2DM patients according to C-peptide tertile

Basal C-peptide measured on an empty stomach was 2.27±1.51 ng/mL. Several clinical parameters were significantly different across the C-peptide tertiles, including BMI, waist circumference, DM duration, and levels of HbA1c, TG, HDL, and uric acid. However, the 10-year CHD risk according to the UKPDS and IMT of the left carotid artery were not significantly different by group (Table 1).

Correlations between basal C-peptide level and cardiovascular biomarkers

To date, there is no confirmed method to predict specific cardiovascular events. Accordingly, several markers of inflammation have been used as predictors of cardiovascular disease, resulting in dependence on indirect estimations such as cholesterol level, blood pressure, and waist circumference. Recently, IMT and the UKPDS risk engine have been the focus of many studies; therefore, the authors of the present study attempted to draw a comparison between cardiovascular risk and above-mentioned components.

Correlations were found between basal C-peptide level and the clinical components. Simple positive correlations were found with FPG, waist circumference, TG, and homocysteine, and simple negative correlations were observed for HDL, DM duration, and HbA1c. All values were statistically significant except for TC, LDL, and SBP, known predictors of cardiovascular disease (TC, P=0.892; LDL, P=0.721; SBP, P=0.183). IMT is known as a good correlation of macrovascular complications and also for having a positive correlation with C-peptide (P=0.014) (Table 2).

Table 2

Correlations between basal C-peptide level and cardiovascular biomarkers

FBS, fasting blood sugar; TG, triglyceride; HDL, high density lipoprotein; TC, total cholesterol; LDL, low density lipoprotein; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DM, diabetes mellitus; CHD, coronary heart disease; UKPDS, United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study; IMT, intima-media thickness.

aPearson's product-moment correlation coefficient, bP values<0.05.

Basal C-peptide level according to the presence of MS under three different definitions

Previous results suggested that C-peptide was more correlated with MS components such as fasting glucose, TG, waist circumference, and HDL than it was with SBP, TC, and LDL. Hence, the authors determined whether the basal C-peptide level had statistically significant relationships with the three MS criteria (NCEP-ATP III, IDF, WHO) using the independent t-test. Basal C-peptide levels tended to increase according to the presence of MS (NCEP-ATP III, P=0.001; IDF, P<0.001; WHO, P=0.029) (Table 3).

Table 3

Basal C-peptide levels according to the presence of metabolic syndrome under three different criteria

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation.

NCEP, National Cholesterol Education Program; ATP III, Adult Treatment Panel III; IDF, International Diabetes Federation; WHO, World Health Organization.

aP between subjects with and without metabolic syndrome using independent t-test, bP values<0.05.

The trend of basal C-peptide level according to the number of metabolic components

Basal C-peptide level increased with the number of metabolic components according to the NCEP-ATP III criteria, and the increments were statistically significant (P<0.001) (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2

The trend of basal C-peptide level according to number of metabolic components. Basal C-peptide level increased according to the number of metabolic components (P value< 0.001). Metabolic components were determined according to NCEP-ATP III criteria. Values are presented as mean±standard deviation.

Multiple regression analysis with IMT and the 10-year CHD risk according to the UKPDS risk engine using clinical variables

The factors which influence the IMT and FRS and which are known to be established predictors of macrovascluar complications were investigated.

The multiple regression analysis between IMT and the clinical values showed that basal C-peptide level had an independent positive correlation (b=0.234) with IMT that was statistically significant (P=0.043). The basal C-peptide level did not correlate with the 10-year CHD risk according to the UKPDS risk engine (P=0.226) (Table 4).

Table 4

Multiple regression analysis with IMT and the 10-year CHD risk according to the UKPDS risk engine with respect to clinical variables

IMT, intima-media thickness; CHD, coronary heart disease; UKPDS, United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study; SBP, systolic blood pressure; TC, total cholesterol; HDL, high density lipoprotein; LDL-C, low density lipoprotein cholesterol; FBS, fasting blood sugar; DM, diabetes mellitus.

aRegression coefficient, bP values<0.05.

DISCUSSION

C-peptide, formed during cleavage of insulin from proinsulin, is a by-product of insulin biosynthesis. After the discovery of the mode of insulin biosynthesis, several early studies addressed the question of possible physiological effects of C-peptide. However, because C-peptide has not been hormonally demonstrated, this proinsulin-connecting peptide has been regarded as a biologically inert by-product [11]. Recently, the G protein-coupled receptor with subsequent activation of the Ca2+-dependent intracellular signaling pathways and the specific binding of the C-peptide to human cell membranes have been demonstrated [12]. C-peptide effects have been suggested to act upon biologically active peptides [13]. According to recent studies, C-peptide induces smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation, immune response, cell growth and may play a pivotal role in the regulation of endothelial function. Previous studies have suggested that such mechanisms could facilitate cardiovascular events [14,15]. Until now, there have been few studies regarding C-peptide and diabetes complications. The authors of the present study aimed to determine whether the basal C-peptide levels were related to cardiovascular risk in T2DM patients.

The present study was designed to evaluate the correlations between C-peptide levels and clinical values of known cardiovascular risk factors such as uric acid, homocystein, SBP, TC, LDL-C, TG, HDL-C, waist circumference, CHD risk according to the UKPDS risk engine and IMT. In Table 2, C-peptide had simple correlations with uric acid, homocystein, TG, HDL-C, and waist circumference, all of which are components of MS. However, the C-peptide level did not significantly correlate with TC, LDL-C, or SBP. Cho et al. [16] showed very similar results. Significant differences were observed in fasting serum C-peptide levels between the abdominal obesity group and the other groups of T2DM patients (diagnosed for over 10 years) (1.80±1.87 µg/L vs. 1.45±1.02 µg/L). Furthermore, C-peptide was also correlated with fibrinogen, TG, HDL-C, and waist circumference.

Basal C-peptide level has a strong association with insulin resistance. Thus, the direct correlations between C-peptide and three different MS definitions (NCEP-ATP III, WHO, IDF) were verified. In Table 3 and Fig. 2, the basal C-peptide level was increased significantly in the MS group with diabetes. Fasting insulin levels are a crude index of insulin secretion and insulin resistance and may underestimate the magnitudes of the associations between insulin resistance and components of MS [17]. C-peptide appeared to correlate better to the well-known variables of MS than it did to insulin, possibly suggesting that C-peptide is a better surrogate than insulin for estimating insulin resistance in epidemiological studies [18].

According to the results from the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MRFIT) [19], the Veteran Affairs High Density Lipoprotein Intervention Trial (VA-HIT) [20] and the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study (IRAS) [21], hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance are supported by showing a direct relationship between insulin level and cardiovascular risk [22]. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the association between insulin resistance and atherosclerosis are still unclear. Hyperglycemia, advanced glycation end products, and dyslipidemia also have been suggested to create vascular events. Although hyperglycemia has been demonstrated to stimulate SMC proliferation in vitro and is thought to contribute to neointima formation, recent reports challenge the concept by demonstrating no mitogenic activity in high glucose environments. Park et al. [23] showed that hyperglycemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was not associated with increased neointima formation.

The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) [24] and the UKPDS [25] have provided consistent evidence that intensive glycemic control prevents the development and progression of microvascular complications in patients with types 1 or 2 diabetes. However, whether intensive glucose reduction also prevents macrovascular disease and major cardiovascular events remains unclear. Therefore, hyperglycemia is not thought to be the main mechanism of cardiovascular complications in T2DM.

Marx and colleagues [26] demonstrated co-localization of C-peptide with SMC in early human atherosclerotic lesions of diabetic subjects. In vitro stimulation of SMC with C-peptide via insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinemia resulted in a dose-dependent induction of smooth cell proliferation. The study outlined a previously unrecognized role for C-peptide to act as mitogen for SMC. Wang et al. [27] proposed that the presence of metabolic insulin resistance (i.e., diminished strength of the PI 3-kinase signaling) and the resulting compensatory hyperinsulinemia cause SMC proliferation, which results in a selective impairment of the PI 3-kinase pathway with intact signaling along the ERK1/2-MAPK pathway, rather than a role in conveying the metabolic action. Currently, insulin acts as a weak mitogen which is not sufficient to influence the proliferation effect. In other words, C-peptide, in conditions which lead to insulin resistance, increases compensatory pathways as well as induces several other signaling pathways including the ERK1/2-MAPK and PI 3-kinase pathways through Src kinase. C-peptide may also have proathergenic effects, such as stimulation of monocytes and T-cell chemotaxis, in atherosclerotic lesions from diabetic patients [28].

IMT is a good marker of early atherosclerotic changes and its progression. IMT is increased in groups of patients with several cardiovascular risk factors [29]. The authors of the present study attempted to determine the independent factors of commonly used methods and markers. In Table 4, C-peptide is an independent factor for IMT but not for the 10-year CHD risk according to the UKPDS risk engine.

The 10-year CHD risk according to the UKPDS risk engine was calculated for each patient based on smoking status, total serum cholesterol, age, serum LDL-C, and SBP. In the present study, Table 2 also shows that basal C-peptide was not associated with the UKPDS risk engine-related factors. Basal C-peptide was not considered to be an independent factor that influences the 10-year CHD risk. However, IMT can be directly assessed based on arterial vessel wall changes and SMC proliferation. As mentioned above, insulin resistance and C-peptide are associated with SMC proliferation. Thus, C-peptide was thought to be an independent factor for IMT, as shown in Table 4. In the Atherosclerosis Risk in the Communities (ARIC) study [30], higher levels of endogenous insulin were significantly associated with increased thickness of the carotid artery wall.

The Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy (WESDR) [31] is an ongoing prospective, population-based cohort study analyzing the relationships of exogenous insulin and C-peptide level with ischemic heart disease mortality over a 16-year period. In the WESDR study, higher levels of plasma C-peptide were also associated with increased risks of death.

The present study has several limitations. First, the study was based on a cross-sectional design, thus the nature of the investigation and the results do not imply a general case, and longitudinal studies are needed. Second, most of the subjects had uncontrolled blood sugar, which may be a risk factor of cardiovascular disease. Third, a correlation between insulin resistance and C-peptide was not considered when using HOMA-IR in the present study. Fourth, basal C-peptide level may have been influenced by various medications because the study population consisted of newly diagnosed, treated or untreated diabetes patients.

In conclusion, the present study suggests that basal C-peptide level in T2DM is related to MS in that it may be a surrogate marker of subclinical atherosclerosis. Further large prospective studies are needed to examine the hypothesis of C-peptide's proatherogenic effects. Moreover, additional work is necessary to identify the C-peptide receptor.