The relationship between serum dectin-1 and other biochemical markers in Iraqi patients with type2 diabetes patients

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from insulin resistance and/or impaired insulin secretion. Dectin-1, a pattern recognition receptor of the C-type lectin family, has recently emerged as a potential link between innate immunity and metabolic dysfunction. This study aimed to evaluate serum Dectin-1 levels in T2DM patients and investigate their association with glycemic and metabolic parameters.

The study was conducted between October and December 2024 at Baqubah Teaching Hospitals, Diyala, Iraq. Eighty patients with T2DM aged over 35 years and 40 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Serum Dectin-1 levels, glycemic indices, renal function markers, and lipid profiles were assessed and compared between groups.

Dectin-1 levels were significantly higher in T2DM patients than in controls (3008.889 vs. 1966.500; p<0.001). Patients with T2DM also had a significantly greater body mass index (28.947 vs. 21.675 kg/m²; p<0.05). Marked alterations in glycemic control were observed, with higher fasting blood glucose (179.975 vs. 98.450 mg/dL) and HbA1c levels (8.052% vs. 5.059%) in diabetic patients (p<0.001). Creatinine levels were significantly elevated in the T2DM group (p<0.001), whereas urea and uric acid showed no significant differences. Lipid profile analysis revealed dyslipidemia characterized by increased total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL levels, alongside reduced HDL concentrations. Correlation analysis demonstrated generally weak associations between Dectin-1 and metabolic parameters; however, a significant positive correlation was identified between Dectin-1 and creatinine (r=0.30, p=0.009). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed moderate diagnostic performance of Dectin-1 for T2DM, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.722.

In conclusion, serum Dectin-1 levels were significantly elevated in Iraqi patients with T2DM and may reflect immune and inflammatory processes associated with the disease. These findings suggest that Dectin-1 could serve as a potential biochemical biomarker for T2DM.