Extracellular status of thrombospondin-2 in type 2 diabetes mellitus and utility as a biomarker in the determination of early diabetic kidney disease.

TSP-2 is a novel glycoprotein associated with early DKD in patients with T2DM. The paradoxical increase of serum TSP-2 in T2DM individuals may be due to a compensatory response to chronic inflammatory and renal vascular endothelial growth, warranting further investigation.