Association between specific plasma ceramides and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes.

ABSTRACT

AIM: Emerging evidence suggests that specific plasma ceramides are involved in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and other inflammation-associated diseases. However, scarce information is currently available on the association between distinct plasma ceramides (that have been associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality) and plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a group of individuals at high risk of developing CVD and other chronic inflammation-related conditions. METHODS: We measured six previously identified high-risk plasma ceramide species [Cer(d181/160), Cer(d181/180), Cer(d181/200), Cer(d181/220), Cer(d181/240), Cer(d181/241)] in 92 postmenopausal women with T2DM attending the diabetes outpatient service over a 3-month period. Plasma ceramide levels were measured using targeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay. RESULTS: Plasma hs-CRP levels were positively associated with all measured ceramides in univariable linear regression analyses. However, only plasma Cer(d181/160) (standard ß coefficient 0.27, P=0.015), Cer(d181/220) (standard ß coefficient 0.25, P=0.032) and Cer(d181/241) (standard ß coefficient 0.30, P=0.007) remained significantly associated with increased plasma hs-CRP levels after adjusting for age, adiposity measures, diabetes duration, HbA1c, insulin resistance, smoking, hypertension, plasma LDL cholesterol, estimated glomerular filtration rate, preexisting ischaemic heart disease and use of lipid-lowering, antihypertensive, antiplatelet or hypoglycaemic drugs. CONCLUSION: In postmenopausal women with T2DM, elevated levels of specific plasma ceramides are associated with higher plasma hs-CRP levels independent of established cardiovascular risk factors, diabetes-related variables and other potential confounding factors.