Plasma Diacylglycerols Are Associated with Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: Findings from a Supercritical Fluid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry-Based Semi-Targeted Lipidomic Analysis
Authors:
- Naohiro TayaNTNaohiro Taya
- Naoto KatakamiNKNaoto Katakami
- Kazuo OmoriKOKazuo Omori
- Shigero HosoeSHShigero Hosoe
- Hirotaka WatanabeHWHirotaka Watanabe
- Mitsuyoshi TakaharaMTMitsuyoshi Takahara
- Kazuyuki MiyashitaKMKazuyuki Miyashita
- Yutaka KonyaYKYutaka Konya
- Sachiko ObaraSOSachiko Obara
- Ayako HidakaAHAyako Hidaka
- Motonao NakaoMNMotonao Nakao
- Masatomo TakahashiMTMasatomo Takahashi
Open Access
- 20 July 2025
- journal article
- research article
- Published by MDPI AG in International Journal of Molecular Sciences
- Vol. 26 (14) , 6977
Abstract
Abnormalities in plasma lipoproteins observed in patients with diabetes promote atherosclerosis. However, the association between various lipid species and classes and atherosclerosis remains unclear. Here, we aimed to identify the plasma lipid characteristics associated with atherosclerosis progression in patients with diabetes. We performed semi-targeted lipidomic analysis of fasting plasma samples using supercritical fluid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry in two independent patient groups with type 2 diabetes (n = 223 and 31) and evaluated cross-sectional associations between plasma lipids and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). Ten plasma lipid species, including eight diacylglycerols (DGs), and total DG levels were significantly associated with CIMT in both groups. Patients of the former group were partly observed for 5 years, and we investigated associations between DGs and CIMT progression in these patients (n = 101). As a result, 22 DGs among the 26 identified DGs and total DG (β = 0.398, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with the annual change in CIMT. Furthermore, plasma DG levels improved the predictive ability for CIMT progression, with an adjusted R-squared increase of 0.105 [95% confidence interval: 0.010, 0.232] in the models. Plasma DGs are associated with CIMT progression in patients with type 2 diabetes. Measurement of total plasma DG levels may be beneficial in assessing the risk of atherosclerosis progression.Keywords
Funding Information
- Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) (JP19gm0710005, JP21gm0910013, JP21gm1010010, JPMXP1323015486)
- Manpei Suzuki Diabetes Foundation (JP19gm0710005, JP21gm0910013, JP21gm1010010, JPMXP1323015486)
- Japan Diabetes Foundation (JP19gm0710005, JP21gm0910013, JP21gm1010010, JPMXP1323015486)
- MEXT Cooperative Research Project Program, Medical Research Center Initiative for High Depth Omics, and CURE (JP19gm0710005, JP21gm0910013, JP21gm1010010, JPMXP1323015486)
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