TNF-α pathway and T-cell immunity are activated early during the development of diabetic nephropathy in Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract Aim of the present study was to investigate the possible involvement of TNF-α signaling pathway and T-lymphocyte activation in DN. Eighty-two diabetic patients [39 male, age 69.5(56–78)years] were divided into three groups, according to Albumin/Creatinine ratio (ACR) levels, Group I (ACR   300 μg/mg). Urinary Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), and serum TNF-α, ΤNF-receptor 1 (TNFR1), TNFR2, B7–1, CD28, Cytoxic T-Lymphocyte-Associated protein-4 (CTLA4), were estimated. There were significant differences between Groups I, II, III regarding the concentration of urinary TNF-α (p  Activation of TNF-α signaling pathway and T-lymphocytes seem to synergize and participate in the development of DN in type II DM.