Chemerin is associated with diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes

Background Chemerin is a novel adipokine, which is suggested to play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its chronic complications. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common complication of diabetes, caused by diabetic microvascular lesions. Objective To investigate the relationship between serum chemerin level and DR in T2DM. Study design Eighty participants were enrolled in the study and were divided into three groups: group I included 40 patients with T2DM complicated with DR, and this group was further subdivided to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR); group II included 20 patients with T2DM not complicated with DR; and group III included 20 apparently healthy patients representing control group. Anthropometric and laboratory measurements including serum chemerin levels were assessed, and values were analyzed to compare the differences among the groups. Results Chemerin level was significantly higher in group I than that in both group II and group III (158.4±25.7 vs. 127.4±20.1 and 116.6±20.3 ng/dl, respectively; P<0.01). Moreover, chemerin level was significantly higher in the PDR group than that in NPDR group (167.7±28.4 vs. 152.2±22.2 ng/dl; P<0.05). Otherwise, no significant difference of chemerin level between group II and group III was found (P=0.135). Conclusion Serum chemerin levels were elevated in patients with T2DM with DR than those without DR and were elevated in patients with PDR than NPDR, suggesting that chemerin may be involved in the development of PDR.