title: Increased levels of alpha-defensin (-1, -2 and -3) in type 1 diabetic patients with nephropathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diabetic nephropathy is associated with low-grade inflammation and activation of the complement system. Defensins, as part of the innate immune system, may play a regulatory role in the complement cascade and may also augment the production of proinflammatory cytokines. The aim of this study was therefore to elucidate whether alpha-defensin is associated with diabetic nephropathy, low-grade inflammation and lipid profiles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from 189 patients with type 1 diabetes selected from the FinnDiane Study. Patients were divided into three groups according to their albumin excretion rate (AER) in three consecutive overnight or 24-h urine collections: normoalbuminuria (AER <20 microg/min or <30 mg/24 h), microalbuminuria (20 <AER <200 microg/min or 30 <AER <300 mg/24 h) and macroalbuminuria (>200 microg/min or >300 mg/24 h). Alpha-defensin was determined by a novel, solid-phase radioimmunoassay (RIA) based on a monoclonal antibody, which recognizes alpha-defensin isoforms 1-3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total serum alpha-defensin (-1, -2 and -3) concentrations were higher (P < 0.001) in patients with macroalbuminuria compared to micro- and normoalbuminuria, but no difference was observed between normoalbuminuria and microalbuminuria. In multiple linear regression analysis alpha-defensin was associated with systolic blood pressure (P = 0.032), HDL-cholesterol (P = 0.013), total cholesterol (P = 0.008), age (P = 0.001) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (P = 0.001), but not with low-grade inflammatory markers. CONCLUSIONS; Serum alpha-defensin (-1, -2 and -3) concentrations are increased in type 1 diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy.
authors.affiliation: Folkhälsan Research Center, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, PO Box 63, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saraheimo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Forsblom
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pettersson-Fernholm
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Flyvbjerg
authors.forename: P-H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Groop
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frystyk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D016014:Linear Models; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D023084:alpha-Defensins / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; D023084:alpha-Defensins