We have recently shown that the level of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), which is associated with the immune status of HIV-infected patients undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), correlates with the insulin action of such patients. Here we extend these findings by investigating the association of suPAR to glucose metabolic insufficiency during an oral glucose challenge (OGTT).

In 16 HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy and 15 HIV-infected patients without lipodystrophy, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity (ISI_composite), prehepatic insulin secretion, proinsulin level and suppression of free fatty acids (FFA) were determined during an OGTT. Stability of suPAR was tested in 6 HIV-infected patients during a 3h OGTT.

Lipodystrophy was associated with a 70% increase in plasma suPAR (P<0.05). During the OGTT, plasma suPAR correlated inversely with ISI_composite and positively with 2h plasma glucose, fasting insulin secretion, fasting intact proinsulin and FFA level during the OGTT (all P<0.05). In multiple regression analyses, in which anthropometric measures (BMI, limbadiposity and fat mass), immune markers (CD4, HIV-RNA, duration of HIV infection), and dyslipidemia (plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride and free fatty acid level during the OGTT) were included, suPAR remained a significant marker of glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Plasma suPAR exhibited a small CV (11%) during the 3h OGTT.

suPAR associated to important glucose metabolic aberrations in HIV-infected patients on HAART. Moreover, suPAR was stable after a glucose challenge. Future research is required to confirm these findings and explore the potential of suPAR as marker of dysmetabolism in HIV-infected patients.