Associations among serum soluble T-cadherin levels, serum adiponectin levels, and metabolic risk factors in a Japanese population undergoing medical health checkups

Abstract

Soluble T-cadherin (sT-cad), which is a circulating form of membrane T-cadherin, is present in human serum. We examined the relationships among sT-cad levels, adiponectin (APN) levels, and the number of metabolic risk factors in individuals undergoing medical health checkups. A total of 1,144 Japanese individuals (811 males and 333 females, average age: 56.3 ± 9.9 years in males and 53.7 ± 10.1 years in females) were analyzed. Serum levels of sT-cad and APN were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Associations of sT-cad and APN levels with the number of metabolic risk factors (abdominal obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia) were evaluated. Serum 130-kDa sT-cad levels were significantly lower in males than in females, and were positively correlated with APN levels. Individuals with low APN levels exhibited more metabolic risk factors. Notably, among males with high APN levels, those with low 130-kDa sT-cad levels had a greater number of metabolic risk factors than those with high 130-kDa sT-cad levels. Serum 130-kDa sT-cad levels were significantly correlated with APN levels in individuals undergoing medical health checkups. Even among males with high APN levels, low sT-cad levels were indicative of the presence of more metabolic risk factors.