Apelin as a Marker of Early Complications in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is an endocrine disorder in which pancreatic β cells stop producing insulin due to autoimmune destruction. This results in hyperglycemia and ketosis ; thus insulin replacement is vital in management . Incidence peaks in puberty and early adulthood . Symptoms include polyuria , polydepsia and weight loss. T1DM can cause micro and macrovascular complications which affect the quality of life .

.Studies proved that TIDM is associated with metabolic abnormalities and alteration of adipose tissue hormones (adipokines). Adipose tissue yields many adipocytokines that modulate insulin sensitivity and play essential role in the pathogenesis of diabetes . Given these complications, we strive to discover new targets that enable us to control DM. One of these targets is apelin .

Apelin is an adipocytokine widely distributed throughout the body including skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, pulmonary tissue, mammary glands, ovaries, brain, kidneys, pancreas and adrenal glands.It was extracted from the bovine stomach by Tatemoto et al., in 1998.

Apelin plays a role in a range of physiological processes including regulation of fluid hemostasis and blood pressure ,improvement of cardiac contractility ,lipid metabolism and metabolic control. It appears to improve insulin sensitivity, reduces blood glucose and increases glucose utilisation .

It has been shown that apelin has a crucial role in energy metabolism and pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and its level is altered in diabetic patients .High serum apelin level was linked to impaired insulin sensitivity . Thus, it was suggested that serum apelin can be used for the prediction of development of diabetes and its progression .