ASSESSMENT OF PYRAZINO-PYRIMIDINE COMPOUND AND SOME INFLAMMATORY BIOMARKERS IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES

Neopterin, pyrazino-pyrimidine compound, is a metabolite of guanosine triphosphate and is produced by the activated monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells upon stimulation by interferon gamma produced by T-lymphocytes. Aim: This study purposed to analyze the serum level of neopterin and to evaluate its correlation with other markers of inflammation in patients with type 2 diabetes at various stages of diabetic nephropathy. Methods: The study done on 80 patients, aged (60 years ±5) with type 2 diabetes, and 60 healthy subjects, aged (50 years±8) recruited from outpatient clinic of nephrology department in Al yarmouk hospital. The serum levels of neopterin, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interluekin-six (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) were assayed by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) kits, and studied. Results: The level of serum neopterin was higher in diabetic patients than in control subjects. There were gradual increases of serum neopterin levels from stage two to stage three and four in diabetic patients. Serum neopterin level correlated positively with serum levels of hs-CRP, IL-6, and IFN-γ and correlated negatively with estimated glomerular filtration rate value. Conclusion: Serum neopterin level is elevated and correlated with the severity of diabetic nephropathy. It may use as a good biomarker for an accurate identification and prognosis of the diseases associated with the activation of cell-mediated immunity.