title: Attenuated levels of pro-inflammatory markers in diabetic retinopathy patients undergoing treatment with antihyperglycemic and antihypertensive drugs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to assess the circulating levels of activated nuclear factor kappa B p65 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in diabetic retinopathy patients who were taking antihyperglycemic and antihypertensive drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 235 healthy controls and 371 Type 2 diabetic patients [171 without retinopathy (DNR) and 200 patients with retinopathy (diabetic retinopathy)] were recruited for this study. Plasma and the nuclear fraction of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated for the quantification of the monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and nuclear factor kappa B p65 levels, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Non-medicated diabetic retinopathy patients had significantly higher levels of activated nuclear factor kappa B p65 and plasma monocyte chemotactic protein-1 than DNR patients. Diabetic retinopathy patients who were taking antihyperglycemic and antihypertensive drugs showed significant reductions in both the nuclear factor kappa B p65 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 levels compared with the non-medicated patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated the significant attenuation of both the nuclear factor kappa B p65 and circulating monocyte chemotactic protein-1 levels in diabetic retinopathy patients taking antihyperglycemic and antihypertensive drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Zhi Xiang
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Kek Heng
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.forename: Iqbal
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tajunisah
authors.forename: Rokiah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pendek
authors.forename: Umah Rani
authors.initials: UR
authors.lastname: Kuppusamy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000097:blood*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA