Diabetes Mellitus and Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Are Acc-ompanied by Increase Pro-Inflammatory Conditions Indicated by a High Blood-Derived Levels of Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 and Interleukin-8

Aims Inflammatory conditions are probably implicated in the pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy. This study aimed to investigate the levels of monocytes chemoattractant protein-1 and interleukin-8 in patients with diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy and to indicate whether these chemokines can predict diabetic retinopathy or not. Material & Methods One-hindered fifty individuals were recruited in this study from Najaf city, Iraq. They were divided into three groups 50 diabetes mellitus diabetes mellitus patients, 50 non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients, and 50 healthy control. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to assess monocytes chemoattractant protein-1 and interleukin-8 along with other spectrophotometric methods for determining other biomarkers. Findings The results indicate a significant difference (p<0.0001) in monocytes chemoattractant protein-1 and interleukin-8 between patients and healthy control and only monocytes chemoattractant protein-1 was a significant difference (p<0.0001) between diabetes mellitus and non-proliferative diabetic-retinopathy group. A correlation study revealed a significant positive correlation between chemokines and duration of illness (monocytes chemoattractant protein-1: rho=0.684, p<0.0001, interleukin-8; rho=0.704, p<0.0001). besides these chemokines also showed a significant direct correlation with HbA1c. Regression analysis showed a large effect size of these chemokines in predicting inflammatory conditions and diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. In addition, the level of monocytes chemoattractant protein-1 appears to predict patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Conclusion Elevated levels of monocytes chemoattractant protein-1 and interleukin-8 in patients with diabetes mellitus suggest the implication of these chemokines in the pathophysiology of the disease and one of the contributors to developing complications such as diabetic retinopathy.