Abstract
Background: Chronic inflammatory processes are thought to play a key role in the development of
micro- and macrovascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus. An association
between low -grade inflammation and type 2 diabetes has been described in some studies.
We assayed the association of two frequent polymorphisms in proinflammatory cytokines:
the interleukin 6 G(-174)C promoter polymorphism [IL-6G(-174)C], the exon 2 interleukin
receptor antagonist insertion deletion polymorphism [IL1RA]) and serum CRP levels
with the prevalence of diabetic nephropathy in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes
mellitus.
Subjects and methods: A total of 141 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, with and without diabetic nephropathy
was genotyped for the above mentioned polymorphisms: 66 with normoalbuminuria, 31
with microalbuminuria and 44 with macroalbuminuria. CRP levels were analysed by a
high sensitivity - immunnephelometric assay.
Results: While a significant association be-tween macroalbuminuria and CRP could be observed
(p<0,015), no associations were found between IL-6G(-174)C or IL1RA genotype and any
stage of nephropathy. CRP-levels were similiar in the 3 different IL-6G(-174)C genotypes
as well as in the 2 IL1RA genotypes.
Conclusions: In type 2 diabetic subjects elevated CRP levels are associated with an increased prevalence
of albuminuria. The two investigated proinflammatory polymorphisms do not seem to
contribute to initiation of nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patients but we cannot
exclude effects of these polymorphisms on course of nephropathy.
Key words
low grade inflammation - diabetes type 2 - diabetic nephropathy - proinflammatory
polymorphisms
References
* 2) associated with nephropathy in diabetes mellitus.
Hum Genet.
1996;
97
369-374
1 H.A. and G.E. contributed equally to the present paper
Correspondence
