title: Circulating nucleic acids and diabetic complications.
abstract: Diabetes mellitus is a major health problem across the world. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) and nephropathy are two of the major complications of diabetes. DR is the leading cause of blindness and diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of end-stage renal failure. We have examined the potential value of circulating nucleic acids in the detection and monitoring of these two complications of diabetes. mRNA for nephrin was significantly higher in all diabetics compared to healthy controls and it was significantly higher in normoalbuminuric patients compared to healthy controls. This may indicate progression to microalbuminuric stage. Circulating rhodopsin mRNA was detectable in healthy subjects and in diabetic patients. It was significantly raised in diabetic patients with retinopathy. Higher rhodopsin mRNA in diabetic patients without retinopathy suggests that some of them may go on to develop it or already have it subclinically. Circulating nucleic acids have the potential to be noninvasive molecular tests for diabetic complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, 5th Floor, North Wing, St Thomas' Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, London, SE1 7EH, UK.
authors.forename: Asif N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Butt
authors.forename: Zaid
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shalchi
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamaoui
authors.forename: Andjeny
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Samadhan
authors.forename: Jake
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Powrie
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Janikoun
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Swaminathan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000097:blood*; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009696:Nucleic Acids; C113267:nephrin; D012243:Rhodopsin