Relationship Between Plasma Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B And The First-phase Of Glucose-stimulated Insulin Secretion From Pancreatic Î' Cell In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Objective To detect plasma vascular endothelial growth factor B(VEGF-B) in healthy, impaired glucose regulation(IGR) and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) subjects and to investigate the relationship of plasma VEGF-B levels with glucose and lipid metabolism and the first-phase of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from pancreatic β cell.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 45 patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM group), 37 patients with impaired glucose regulation(IGR group), and 39 normal glucose tolerant subjects(NGT group), all of whom underwent intravenous glucose tolerance test(IVGTT). Plasma VEGF-B levels were assayed by ELISA and fasting plasma Free fatty acids(FFA) levels were measured by enzymatic method. Plasma glucose, insulin, Hemoglobin A1c(Hb A1c), and lipids were also detected. The first-phase insulin secretion function was evaluated by Acute insulin response(AIR), the area under the curve of 0-10 min insulin secretion(AUC) and glucose disposition index(GDI), and β cell function index(HOMA-β) and insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR) were assessed by Homeostasis model assessment.Results The T2 DM and IGR groups had higher plasma VEGF-B levels than the NGT group(P<0.01). Plasma VEGF-B levels were negatively correlated with AIR, AUC, GDI, HOMA-β(P<0.01), and positively correlated with FPG, 2h PG, Hb A1 c, TG, FFA, FINS, HOMA-IR(P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that higher VEGF-B levels(145.59pg/ml-180.07pg/ml, OR, 3.55[95%CI, 1.05-12.02] and >180.07pg/ml, OR, 3.64[95%CI, 1.16-11.42]) were related to a greater probability of β cell hypofunction, compared with low VEGF-B levels(<145.59pg/ml). After adjusting for TG or FFA, the association between VEGF-B levels and β cell hypofunction disappeared(all P>0.05).Conclusions Plasma VEGF-B levels were increased in Chinese patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus, and were strongly associated with glucose and lipid metabolism and the first-phase insulin secretion function of β cell. VEGF-B may be involved in the mechanism of β cell hypofunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus.