Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate an association between serum growth arrest-specific 6 (Gas6), AXL, and soluble AXL (sAXL) levels and the glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in diabetic patients.

Materials and Methods: This study included type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients of a department of endocrinology and healthy individuals. The HbA1c and creatinine levels of all of the participants were evaluated using autoanalyzers and the eGFR was calculated according to the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration formula. The Gas6, AXL, and sAXL serum protein concentrations were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Results: The study group consisted of 51 patients (34 females and 17 males) diagnosed with T2DM and 17 healthy controls (9 females and 8 males). The Gas6, AXL, and sAXL concentrations were significantly lower in the patient group (p<0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between the Gas6, AXL, and sAXL parameters in both groups. The eGFR was negatively correlated with the Gas6 and sAXL levels in the patient group (r=-0.285, p<0.047; r=-0.311, p<0.028, respectively), while there was no correlation observed in the control group.

Conclusion: Gas6, AXL, and sAXL have an important role in the pathogenesis of T2DM. Gas6 and sAXL appear to have a potentially predictive value for diabetic nephropathy. Further clinical studies are necessary to clarify this mechanism.