Low sNRP-1 Levels Tied to Depression in Newly Diagnosed T2D

TOPLINE:

Low levels of soluble neuropilin-1 (sNRP-1) were associated with depression in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D), with the association remaining consistent across all age groups.

METHODOLOGY:

• The NRP-1 receptor is an essential transmembrane glycoprotein involved in the development of the nervous and cardiovascular systems, as well as immune regulation, and may play a role in diabetes complications due to its presence in various tissues including the brain, cardiovascular system, kidneys, retina, pancreatic beta cells, and adipose tissue macrophages.
• Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study to examine the association between levels of sNRP-1 and depression in 837 adults with newly diagnosed serologically verified T2D (median age, 65 years; 39% women), of whom 119 had depression.
• Self-report instruments, such as the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), were used to assess depression and anxiety; self-reported depression was defined as a HADS-depression subscale score ≥ 8 points and anxiety as a HADS-anxiety score ≥ 8 points.
• Variables such as age, sex, levels of sNRP-1 (low levels are defined as < 226 ng/mL), A1c, C-peptide, use of antidepressants, body mass index, and preexisting cardiovascular disease were analyzed.

TAKEAWAY:

• Patients with newly diagnosed T2D who had depression showed a higher prevalence of anxiety (64% vs 14%), antidepressant use (36% vs 14%), and low levels of sNRP-1 (45% vs 22%; all P < .001) than those without depression.
• In patients with newly diagnosed T2D, low levels of sNRP-1 were independently associated with an increased risk for depression (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.3; P < .001).
• In those younger than 60 years, low levels of sNRP-1 were independently associated with depression (aOR, 3.3; P < .001), preexisting myocardial infarction (aOR, 3.8; P = .039), and younger age (per year; aOR, 0.97; P = .043), while in those aged 60 years or older, only depression (aOR, 3.1; P < .001) and younger age (aOR, 0.97; P = .030) were independently associated with low levels of sNRP-1.

IN PRACTICE:

“We suggest routinely using self-report instruments for the detection of depression at the time of the T2D diagnosis,” the authors wrote.

SOURCE:

This study was led by Eva O. Melin, PhD, Diabetes Research Laboratory, Biomedical Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. It was published online on March 27, 2025, in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.

LIMITATIONS:

Self-reported depression was not verified by clinical diagnosis despite a significant association between self-reported depression and antidepressant use. The cross-sectional nature of this study limited the ability to establish a causal relationship between low levels of sNRP-1 and depression. Furthermore, the inclusion of patients with Alzheimer’s disease could not be determined even though individuals who were unable to complete the HADS due to cognitive difficulties were excluded.

DISCLOSURES:

This study was funded by the Research and Development fund of Region Kronoberg (Växjö, Sweden) and Research Council of South-Eastern Sweden. The authors declared having no competing interests.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.