Microinflammation is a common risk factor for progression of nephropathy and atherosclerosis in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the change of serum levels of proinflammatory molecules in patients with type 2 diabetes and clarify the involvement of these molecules in diabetic nephropathy and atherosclerosis.


METHODS
Sixty-six Japanese type 2 diabetic patients (T2DM) and 39 healthy control subjects were enrolled. We assessed clinical parameters, urinary albumin excretion rate (AER), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), intima media thickness (IMT) and serum levels of proinflammatory molecules.


RESULTS
Serum levels of IL-6, IP-10 and MCP-1 were significantly higher in T2DM than in control subjects. In T2DM, serum levels of high-sensitivity (hs) CRP, IP-10, hsTNF-alpha, VCAM-1 and E-selectin were positively correlated with AER. Serum levels of IP-10, hsTNF-alpha and VCAM-1 were positively correlated with baPWV. Serum levels of hsCRP, IL-6, IP-10 and hsTNF-alpha were positively correlated with IMT. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that serum levels of hsTNF-alpha were independently associated with AER (beta=0.235, P=0.038) and serum levels of IP-10 were independently associated with baPWV (beta=0.209, P=0.047) and IMT (beta=0.303, P=0.032).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that low-grade inflammation, microinflammation, may be a common risk factor for diabetic nephropathy and atherosclerosis in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients.
Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1, Shikata-cho, Okayama 700-8558, Japan.
Nobuo
N
Kajitani
Kenichi
K
Shikata
Akihiko
A
Nakamura
Tatsuaki
T
Nakatou
Makoto
M
Hiramatsu
Hirofumi
H
Makino
D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators