Role of Bilirubin in Diabetic Vascular Complications: Can Bilirubin Predict More than Just Liver Disease?

• Published in: Diabetes & metabolism journal Vol. 39; no. 5; pp. 384 - 386
• Main Author: Moon, Jun Sung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Diabetes Association / Daehan Dangnyobyeong Hakoe 01.10.2015; Korean Diabetes Association; 대한당뇨병학회
• Subjects: Asymptomatic; Atherosclerosis; Biomarkers; C-reactive protein; Cardiovascular disease; Conflicts of interest; Coronary vessels; Diabetes; Inflammation; Kinases; Meta-analysis; Oxidative stress; Risk factors; 내과학
• ISSN: 2233-6079; 2233-6087; 2233-6087
• DOI: 10.4093/dmj.2015.39.5.384

There are two isoforms of HO; HO-1 is a highly inducible form responsible for oxidative stress, and HO-2 is a constitutive form with an important role in brain and testes. On the contrary, a large Korean study found that higher bilirubin levels reduced the risk of diabetes and diabetic nephropathy [10]. Since an inverse correlation between bilirubin and coronary artery disease (CAD) was observed [11], many studies have consistently demonstrated a low concentration of bilirubin to be a risk factor for atherosclerotic CVDs. [...]a prospective study has indicated that bilirubin could be a protective and predictive biomarker for the development of cardiovascular events in patients with cardiac syndrome X, which is closely related to oxidative stress and vascular inflammation [13]. The mechanism underlying the antithrombotic functions of bilirubin could involve bilirubin reducing platelet activation as an antioxidant and inhibiting collagen-induced platelet aggregation and thrombus formation [16] in vitro.