SCUBE-1 in The Diagnosis and Follow-Up Of Subclinical Atherosclerosis in The Experimental Diabetes Mellitus and Obesity Model

BACKGROUND Obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease that is a global problem, the most crucial complication of which is atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease resulting from endothelial dysfunction and accompanying platelet hyperactivity. The presence of the SCUBE-1 protein has been observed within vascular endothelial cells and platelets, both recognized for their pivotal involvement in the arterial thrombosis mechanism. The objective of this research is to examine the utility of serum SCUBE-1 levels in diagnosing and monitoring subclinical atherosclerosis in experimentally induced DM and obese rats. METHODS The study comprised a cohort of 28 male Sprague‒Dawleyrats, which encompassed the following groups: the obese group subjected to a high-fat diet (HFD), the TII-DM group administered HFD in combination with a single dose of streptozocin (STZ), the TI-DM group treated solely with STZ, and the control group. Serum SCUBE1 was analyzed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method, and caspase-3 (Cas-3), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon-gamma (INF-gamma) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression in the liver and pancreas of rats were evaluated using immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS Serum SCUBE1 levels were significantly higher in the obese and DM groups than in the control group, but there was no significant difference among the obese, TI-DM and TII-DM groups. The study identified a significant relationship between serum SCUBE1 level and hepatic CAS3, IL-6 and SOD expression and pancreatic SOD expression. CONCULISON SCUBE1 can be used as a promising novel marker for the diagnosis and monitoring of subclinical atherosclerosis in individuals with obesity, TI-DM, and TII-DM