Background Nesfatin-1, a novel adipokine and dipeptidyl peptidase-4
(DPP4), a mam malian serine protease, are potent factors of
atherosclerosis. In the present cross-sectional study, we investigated
whether the plasma nesfatin-1 and DPP4 is associated with the prevalence
and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) with and without diabetes
mellitus (DM). Methods We consecutively enrolled a total of 240 patients
with significant CAD (previous revascularization or
angiographically-proven coronary artery stenosis > 50%) presented with
either unstable angina (UA, N = 76) or stable chronic CAD (SCAD, N =
165). 85 patients with at least 2 classical cardiovascular risk factors
but without significant CAD served as controls. The severity of CAD was
assessed using coronary angiography by the Gensini score. Clinical
parameters, glycemic and lipid profile, high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP),
nesfatin-1 and DPP4 levels were assayed. Results No differences were
found for age, sex, hypertension and diabetes distribution between
groups. Low nesfatin-1 levels were found in both CAD groups (UA & SCAD)
with respect to controls. The difference between UA and SCAD groups was
marginally non-significant. There was a significant increase of DPP4
along UA to SCAD and control groups. Differences between groups remained
unchanged in non-diabetic participants. Nesfatin-1 significantly
correlated to hsCRP (r = - 0.287, p = 0.036), HOMA-IR (r = - 0.587, p =
0.007) and hyperlipidemia (r = - 0.331, p = 0.034). DPP4 was
significantly associated with hs-CRP (r = 0.353 p < 0.001) and FPG (r =
0.202, p = 0.020) in univariate analysis, but those correlations were
lost in multiple regression analysis. There was a negative correlation
between nesfatin-1 and the severity of CAD, quantified by the Gensini
score (r = - 0.511, p < 0.001), but no association was found for DPP4.
Conclusions Serum DPP4 levels are increased in patients with CAD, while
serum nesfatin-1 levels have a negative association with both the
incidence and the severity of CAD. These results are independent of the
presence of diabetes mellitus. In addition, both peptides have a strong
association with hsCRP. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov
Identifier: NCT0030617
