Objectives: Apelin, a cytokine mainly secreted by adipocytes and several tissues, includes the gastrointestinal tract, adipose, brain, kidney, liver, lung, and various sites within the cardiovascular system. Apelin is closely related to glucose metabolism, and has been proposed to be a promising therapeutic agent in treating insulin resistance. Apelin and orphaned G-protein-coupled apelin exhibit roles in regulating fluid homeostasis. Circulating serum apelin suppresses insulin secretion by binding to the G-protein-coupled apelin receptor on B cells of islets of Langerhans. Several studies also have documented the altered level of serum apelin in type 2 diabetic patients, but the results remain controversial. This study sought to analyze apelin levels in new-onset diabetes after transplant.
Materials and methods: Forty-seven diabetic renal transplant recipients were compared with 40 nondiabetic renal transplant recipients. Data were collected for positive family history of diabetes, body weight, body mass index, blood pressure, and blood chemistry including apelin level. Logistic multiple analysis were made for statistically significant data on univariate analysis.
Results: Apelin levels were significantly higher among obese, hypercholesterolemia new-onset diabetes after transplant patients, 428.7 ± 193.29, 256.8 ± 128 (P > .001). There was appositive correlation between serum apelin and proteinuria.
Conclusions: Serum apelin has a high level in new-onset diabetes after transplant, than nondiabetic patients, and they positively correlate with proteuria in new-onset diabetes after transplant patients.