Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Previous study found that interleukin 1β (IL-1β) is associated with diabetic cognitive dysfunction. Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is one of the factors related to IL-1β associated inflammation. Here, we aim to investigate the role of HSP27 in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, individuals with T2DM with and without MCI were recruited and categorized into Control and MCI groups. Plasma HSP27 levels were assessed and compared between the Control and MCI groups. Furthermore, the relationship between HSP27 and diabetic dysfunction was elucidated through association and regression analyses. Finally, diagnostic values were determined using ROC curves. RESULTS: In humans, individuals with T2DM and MCI exhibit decreased levels of HSP27 compared to those without MCI. Notably, the levels of HSP27 are associated with neuropsychological test scores that reflect cognitive preferences. Additionally, decreased HSP27 levels serve as one of the risk factors for MCI in T2DM patients (OR = 0.355, P = 0.002). Moreover, there is a defined cut-off point for HSP27 in diagnosing MCI, set at 3.51 pg/ml, with a sensitivity of 47.2%, a specificity of 94.4%, and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.695. CONCLUSIONS: Generally speaking, HSP27 is linked to cognitive decline in individuals with T2DM. Decreased levels of HSP27 in plasma are identified as both a risk factor for MCI and a potential diagnostic biomarker for MCI in patients with T2DM. The diagnostic value of HSP27 in MCI is primarily reflected in its demonstrated true negative rate.