Serum CXCL14 levels are associated with serum C-peptide and fatty liver index in T2DM patients.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION Recent studies have suggested C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 14 (CXCL14), secreted from adipose tissue, to play an important role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome. However, the clinical significance of CXCL14 in humans has not been elucidated. This study aimed to assess correlations between serum CXCL14 levels and clinical parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). MATERIALS AND METHODS In total, 176 subjects with T2DM were recruited. Serum CXCL14 concentrations were determined by ELISA. We examined the associations of serum CXCL14 levels with laboratory values, abdominal CT image information, surrogate markers used for evaluating the pathological states of DM, obesity and atherosclerosis. RESULTS Serum CXCL14 levels correlated positively with body mass index, waist circumference, subcutaneous and visceral fat areas, and serum ALT, UA, TC, LDL-C, TG, and C-peptide (CPR) levels. In contrast, CXCL14 levels correlated inversely with age, pulse wave velocity, and serum adiponectin levels. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed serum levels of CPR (β=0.227, p=0.038) and the fatty liver index (FLI; β=0.205, p=0.049) to be the only parameters showing independent statistically significant associations with serum CXCL14 levels. CONCLUSIONS Serum CXCL14 levels were independently associated with serum CPR and FLI in patients with T2DM. In these patients, a high serum CPR concentration might reflect insulin resistance rather than β-cell function, because CXCL14 showed simple correlations with obesity-related parameters. Collectively, these data suggested that serum CXCL14 levels in T2DM might be useful predictors of elevated serum CPR and hepatic steatosis.