Increased plasma DPP4 activities predict new-onset hyperglycemia in Chinese over a four-year period: Possible associations with inflammation

ObjectiveDPP4, a novel proinflammatory cytokine, is involved in the inflammatory process through its interaction with the IGF-II/M6P receptor. Our objective was to determine whether DPP4 acts as a link between low-grade chronic inflammation and hyperglycemia.Design and methodsA prospective cohort study was conducted with 486 adults (177 men and 309 women) aged 18 to 70 years without hyperglycemia examined in 2007 (baseline) and 2011 (follow-up). Circulating DPP4 activity, IGF-II/M6P receptor, and inflammatory markers were measured at baseline and four years later.ResultsAfter a four-year follow-up period, 111 individuals developed hyperglycemia (71 prediabetes and 40 type 2 diabetes). According to the multiple linear regression analysis, the baseline DPP4 activity was an independent predictor of an increase in the IGF-II/M6P receptor, inflammatory markers, and insulin resistance over the four-year period (all P < 0.05).In the multivariable-adjusted models, the odds ratio (OR) for incident hyperglycemia comparing the highest and lowest quartiles of DPP4 activity was 2.90 (95% CI 1.47–5.73) after adjustment for confounding risk factors (P = 0.002). The incidence of hyperglycemia because of DPP4 activity increased by 9.47%. Furthermore, the plasma DPP4 activity significantly improved the area under the ROC curve for predicting new-onset hyperglycemia based on the information from the baseline levels of the risk factors (P = 0.036).ConclusionsDPP4 activity is an important predictor of the onset of insulin resistance and hyperglycemia in apparently healthy Chinese. This finding may have important implications for understanding the proinflammatory role of DPP-4 in the development and pathogenesis of hyperglycemia.