Tumour necrosis factor

The objective of this study was to evaluate the expression profile of tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN). A total of 126 Chinese subjects were enrolled in this study, including 42 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), 42 patients with DN and 42 healthy controls. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to analyze levels of TRAIL mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Serum levels of soluble TRAIL (sTRAIL) and various cytokines were detected with a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Compared with the control group, the levels of TRAIL mRNA in PBMCs and sTRAIL in sera were both significantly decreased in the DM and DN patients (P < 0.05). Conversely, levels of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor-α and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 were higher in the DN group than in the control group. Serum levels of TRAIL positively correlated with TRAIL mRNA levels in all of the subjects examined (P < 0.05). These results provide support and a theoretical basis for further research of TRAIL in regard to the pathogenesis of DN