Correlation between Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cell Markers, Vitamin D, and Iron Levels in Diabetic Nephropathy

Objective: Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play an essential role in endothelial repair and neovascularization. Vitamin D deficiency may contribute to EPC depletion and endothelial dysfunction in patients with type ۲ diabetes. In addition, iron overload is closely related to the development of diabetes and its various chronic complications. This study was designed to determine the relationship between EPC markers (CD۳۴, CD۱۳۳), vitamin D, and iron in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Materials and Methods: This case-control study was conducted on ۶۷ diabetic patients with or without nephropathy. Blood pressure and all biochemical parameters were measured and compared. Serum concentrations of insulin, vitamin D, CD۳۴, and CD۱۳۳ were measured using ELISA. Serum iron concentration was measured using atomic absorption spectrometry. Results: Body mass index (P= ۰.۰۰۶), diastolic pressure (P= ۰.۰۱۸), insulin level (P= ۰.۰۲۸), Creatinine (P= ۰.۰۱۳), duration of diabetes, uric acid, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were significantly different between the two groups (each P= ۰.۰۰۰۱).The vitamin D (P= ۰.۰۳۴), CD۳۴ (P= ۰.۰۰۰۱), and CD۱۳۳ (P= ۰.۰۲۵) levels decreased, and Iron (P= ۰.۰۰۰۱) increased in the case group. Also, CD۳۴ has a significant direct relationship with insulin, insulin resistance, and CD۱۳۳. The results showed that vitamin D, iron, CD۳۴, and CD۱۳۳ had a significant relationship with the severity of nephropathy (P= ۰.۰۰۰۱, each). Conclusion: Increased iron levels and decreased vitamin D, CD۳۴, and CD۱۳۳ levels are associated with the severity of nephropathy. This result indicates that diabetic nephropathy may directly reduce CD۳۴ and CD۱۳۳ levels in the body, increasing the incidence of secondary complications in these patients.

Keywords:

Diabetic nephropathy , Vitamin D , CD۳۴ antigen , CD۱۳۳ antigen , Iron