Glycation of apoA-I and Diabetic Atherogenesis

The goal of this study is to determine the relationship of apoprotein A-1 (apoA-I) glycation and development of diabetic atherosclerosis. ApoA-I is crucial for reverse cholesterol transport and anti-inflammation/anti-atherosclersis functions of HDL. However, apoA-I is easily subjected to non-enzymatic glycation modification in diabetic milleu. Our preliminary study has shown that apoA-I in HDL from type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is significantly glycated, and site specific glycation of apoA-I impairs HDL function and is related to the development of atherosclerosis. To the best of our knowledge, less clinical information regarding apoA-I glycation and CAD has been reported. In this cross-sectional study, by consecutively enrolling diabetic patients with (two to three hundred) or without CAD (controls, six to eight hundred) in our hospital, we will isolate their serum HDL and perform a qualitative and quantitative proteomic analysis of apoA-I glycation. The relation of apoA-I glycation and HDL function and angiography-determined severity of CAD will be evaluated. Later, we will follow these diabetic patients to analyze the influence of apoA-I glycation on the outcome including plaque progression.