Roles of interleukins (interleukin-18 and interleukin-17a) and transforming growth factor-beta markers in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney diseases.

In diabetes, microvascular damage often targets the kidney, making them the most crucial organ affected. Due to the disease itself or other accompanying health issues such as hypertension and nephron loss due to aging, a significant number of patients end up with kidney disease. The current research aimed to analyze the concentration of cytokines in the serum (Interleukin [IL]-18, IL-17a and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß) in Iraqi adult patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD). The current investigation was carried out in Tikrit Teaching Hospital/Salahaddin governorate for the time from October 2022 to January 2023. Sixty blood specimens were obtained from patients with DKD. Serum levels of IL-18, IL-17a, and TGF-ß markers in the samples were subjected to measurement by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results of the present study showed significant differences (P < 0.05) among different age categories of clinical populations with 51-60 and >60 years scoring highest (28% and 33%), whereas 21-30 and 31-40 years scored (8.3% and 13.3%). The concentration of IL-18, IL-17a, and TGF-ß markers was high in patients (200.30 ± 59.50, 102.13 ± 50.82, and 57.15 ± 18.90) than in healthy individuals (104.50 ± 31.01, 42.90 ± 10.55, and 31.90 ± 8.83). Based on the Pearson's correlation results, IL-17a had a significant negative correlation with TGF-ß (r = -0.270* Sig. =0.037). Moreover, the receiver operating characteristic curve showed the IL-18, IL-17a, and TGF-ß markers scored the highest sensitivity (98%, 96%, and 87%) and specificity (94%, 97%, and 80%), respectively, in screening patients with DKD. Based on the analysis, it could be inferred that disease intensity generally tends to worsen with an increase in age. IL-18, IL-17a, and TGF-ß are good prognostic markers in screening patients with DKD. These cytokines present a promising target for therapeutic interventions in DKD therapy.

ACE gene polymorphism and its association with serum erythropoietin and hemoglobin in Iraqi hemodialysis patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the frequencies of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism in Iraqi hemodialysis patients and to examine the association between this polymorphism and serum erythropoietin and hemoglobin levels. . METHODS: In this study, 70 chronic renal failure Iraqi patients on maintenance hemodialysis (patient group) and 20 healthy subjects (control group) were genotyped for angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism. The distribution of genotype and allele frequencies of this polymorphism in these subjects were also evaluated. . RESULTS: The distribution of angiotensin-converting enzyme genotypes between groups was similar, and the ID genotype was the most frequent, followed by DD and II genotypes ( 50% , 37% , and 13%). The control group had a nonsignificant difference in serum erythropoietin levels among different angiotensin-converting enzyme genotypes, while patients with ID and DD genotypes displayed significant elevation in serum erythropoietin with time. No significant differences in hemoglobin levels were observed in patient and control groups. A significant positive correlation was observed between serum erythropoietin and hemoglobin in the control group with different angiotensin-converting enzyme genotypes, while a nonsignificant negative correlation was observed in the patient group throughout the study. . CONCLUSIONS: Chronic kidney disease did not significantly alter angiotensin-converting enzyme genotypes, and angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism had a significant effect on serum erythropoietin levels and a non significant effect on hemoglobin levels. .

Interleukin-6 gene polymorphisms and serum erythropoietin and hemoglobin in hemodialysis Iraqi patients.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic and pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in different biological activities such as hematopoiesis, inflammation, and acute-phase response. The rate of IL-6 synthesis and degradation is affected by single nucleotide polymorphisms. This study aimed to evaluate the frequencies of 174G/C IL-6 gene promoter polymorphism in Iraqi hemodialysis (HD) patient and to examine the association between the allelic variations and serum erythropoietin (EPO) and hemoglobin (Hb) levels. The frequencies of IL-6 gene polymorphism were studied in 70 chronic renal failure patients on maintenance HD (patients group) and in 20 healthy participants (control group). Genotyping of IL-6 gene was performed by conventional polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The distribution of IL-6 genotypes between groups was similar, and GG genotype is the most frequent followed by CG and CC genotypes. Control group had a nonsignificant difference in serum EPO levels among different IL-6 genotypes, while patients with GG genotype displayed significant elevation in serum EPO with time, followed by CG and CC genotypes. No significant differences in Hb levels were observed in patients and control groups. A significant positive correlation was observed between serum EPO and Hb in control group with different IL-6 genotypes, while a nonsignificant negative correlation was observed in patients group throughout the study. CKD did not significantly alter IL-6 genotypes, and IL-6 gene polymorphism had a significant effect on serum EPO levels and a nonsignificant effect on Hb levels.