Association of interleukin-10 polymorphisms with cytokines in type 2 diabetic nephropathy.

OBJECTIVE

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) polymorphic variants are linked with cytokine production and are involved in many chronic inflammatory diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We investigated the hypothesis that IL-10 promoter polymorphisms may be associated with cytokine expressions involved in the progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN).

STUDY DESIGN

A total of 72 Taiwanese subjects were included in this study; along with a control group, patients had a diagnosis of DN lasting ≥2 years, and patients had a diagnosis of T2DM with normal renal functions lasting ≥5 years. Their IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) genotyping and association of blood chemistry, plasma IL-10, TNF-α, and monocyte chemoattract protein-1 (MCP-1), and urinary MCP-1 were investigated.

RESULTS

The IL-10-(-592) genotype exhibited significant association with cytokine expressions in DN: significantly higher TNF-α and lower plasma IL-10 levels were observed in IL-10-(-592)AA, whereas a higher urine MCP-1 level was found in Taiwanese patients with the IL-10-(-592)CC genotype.

CONCLUSIONS

IL-10-(-592) promoter polymorphisms may influence IL-10 and MCP-1 production, which may be an indicator of nephropathy risk in Taiwanese T2DM patients.