AIM To investigate the correlation between the expression levels of serum Krüppel-like transcription factor 8 (KLF8) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) and the severity of coronary heart disease patients with impaired glucose regulation.

METHODS A total of 204 patients with coronary heart disease admitted to our hospital from March 2021 to September 2022 were selected as the study subjects, according to whether the patients had impaired glucose regulation, they were divided into non-impaired glucose regulation group (94 cases) and impaired glucose regulation group (110 cases). According to the results of coronary angiography, patients with impaired glucose regulation were grouped into single vessel lesion group (39 cases), double vessel lesions group (42 cases) and triple vessel lesions group (29 cases). According to Gensini score, patients with impaired glucose regulation were divided into mild group (42 cases), moderate group (38 cases) and severe group (30 cases). The serum KLF8 mRNA level of the subjects was measured by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and the expression level of GLUT4 in the subjects’ serum was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pearson was applied to analyze the correlation between serum KLF8, GLUT4 levels and indicators.

RESULTS Compared with the non impaired glucose regulation group, the impaired glucose regulation group significantly increased fasting blood glucose, 2-hour postprandial blood glucose, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and total cholesterol; The levels of serum KLF8 and GLUT4 in the impaired glucose regulation group decreased significantly; Compared with patients with impaired glucose regulation in single vessel coronary heart disease, the levels of serum KLF8 and GLUT4 in the two vessel coronary heart disease group and the three vessel coronary heart disease group were significantly lower; Compared with patients with impaired glucose regulation in coronary heart disease with dual vessel lesions, the levels of serum KLF8 and GLUT4 in the triple vessel lesion group were significantly lower; The levels of serum KLF8 and GLUT4 in patients with impaired glucose regulation in coronary heart disease decreased significantly with the severity of the disease; Pearson correlation analysis showed that serum KLF8 and GLUT4 levels in patients with impaired glucose regulation and coronary heart disease were negatively correlated with fasting blood glucose, 2-hour postprandial blood glucose, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol levels, and Gensini scores. The above statistical differences were all （P<0.01）.

CONCLUSION The expression levels of serum KLF8 and GLUT in coronary heart disease patients with impaired glucose regulation are obviously decreased, which is negatively correlated with the severity of the disease.