Correlation Between Plasma NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18 and Diabetic Nephropathy in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Context center dot Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common microvascular complication in diabetic patients. The pathogenesis of DN is complex. Inflammatory response may play a key role as a common downstream pathway. Objective center dot The study intended to explore the relationship between the levels of plasma nucleotide-binding oligomeric domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3 inflammasome), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and IL-18 and the progression of type 2 diabetic nephropathy to clarify their relationship with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to provide evidence for clinical treatment. Design center dot The research team performed a controlled observational study. Setting center dot The study took place at Baoding No. 1 Central Hospital in Baoding, Hebei, China. Participants center dot Participants were 153 patients with T2DM who received treatment at the hospital between October 2020 and October 2021. The research team allocated 30 participants without evidence of DN to the control group. Based on the DN stage, the team assigned the 123 remaining participants to one of five observation groups: (1) 32 participants with stage 1 DN to the DN1 group, (2) 31 participants with stage 2 DN to the DN2 group, (3) 30 participants with stage 3 DN to the DN3 group, (4) 30 participants with stage 4 DN to the DN4 group, and (5) 29 participants with stage 5 DN to the DN5 group. Outcome Measures center dot The research team measured participants' levels of "nucleotide binding oligomeric domain-like receptor protein 3" (NLRP3), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and IL-18 and used the Spearman rank correlation analysis to determine the correlation between those levels and the DN stages. Results center dot The levels of NLRP3, IL-1 beta and IL-18 in all the five observation groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P <.01). The levels were also significantly higher: (1) in the DN2, DN3, DN4, and DN5 groups than those in the DN1 group (all P <.01); (2) in the DN3, DN4, and DN5 groups than those in the DN2 group (all P <.01); (3) in the DN4 and DN5 groups than those in the DN3 group (all P <.01); and (4) in the DN5 groups than those in the DN4 group (all P <.01). The Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that the NLRP3, IL-1 beta, and IL-18 levels were significantly positively correlated with the DN stage (P =.01). Conclusions center dot NLRP3, IL-1 beta and IL-18 played an important role in the progression of T2DM, and their levels increased with the aggravation of DN. Therefore, the plasma levels of NLRP3, IL-1 beta and IL-18 can be useful as indicators of the occurrence and development of DN and can provide clinical guidance for the early diagnosis of DN and for the determination and adjustment of treatment plans.