The pattern-recognition molecule H-ficolin in relation to diabetic kidney disease, mortality, and cardiovascular events in type 1 diabetes

Sci Rep. 2021 Apr 26;11(1):8919. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-88352-y.

Abstract

H-ficolin recognizes patterns on microorganisms and stressed cells and can activate the lectin pathway of the complement system. We aimed to assess H-ficolin in relation to the progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), all-cause mortality, diabetes-related mortality, and cardiovascular events. Event rates per 10-unit H-ficolin-increase were compared in an observational follow-up of 2,410 individuals with type 1 diabetes from the FinnDiane Study. DKD progression occurred in 400 individuals. The unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) for progression was 1.29 (1.18-1.40) and 1.16 (1.05-1.29) after adjustment for diabetes duration, sex, HbA1c, systolic blood pressure, and smoking status. After adding triglycerides to the model, the HR decreased to 1.07 (0.97-1.18). In all, 486 individuals died, including 268 deaths of cardiovascular causes and 192 deaths of complications to diabetes. HRs for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality were 1.13 (1.04-1.22) and 1.05 (0.93-1.17), respectively, in unadjusted analyses. These estimates lost statistical significance in adjusted models. However, the unadjusted HR for diabetes-related mortality was 1.19 (1.05-1.35) and 1.18 (1.02-1.37) with the most stringent adjustment level. Our results, therefore, indicate that H-ficolin predicts diabetes-related mortality, but neither all-cause mortality nor fatal/non-fatal cardiovascular events. Furthermore, H-ficolin is associated with DKD progression, however, not independently of the fully adjusted model.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study
  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / blood
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / etiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / mortality
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1* / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1* / mortality
  • Diabetic Nephropathies* / blood
  • Diabetic Nephropathies* / mortality
  • Female
  • Finland
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Lectins / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Cardiovascular*

Substances

  • FCN3 protein, human
  • Lectins