Peripheral blood levels of CXCL10 are a useful marker for diabetic polyneuropathy in subjects with type 2 diabetes

Background Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a chronic complication of diabetes mellitus associated with high morbidity and mortality. Major risk factors for DPN include metabolic changes, duration of diabetes, nerve ischaemia and derangements in regeneration and nerve repair programs. Chemokines have been previously implicated in the pathogenesis of various neuropathies and neuropathic pain processes. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the association between plasma levels of chemokines (CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11) with the presence of DPN in a cohort of type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients. Materials and methods We studied 73 patients with T2D: 36 with DPN and 37 without DPN. DPN was established through the Semmes-Weinstein test (SW). Plasma levels of circulating chemokines CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 were determined using Duoset ELISA kits (Abingdon, UK). Results We found that levels of CXCL10 were significantly higher in patients with DPN than among patients without DPN (57.6 ± 38.3 vs. 38.1 ± 33.4 pg/mL, respectively; p = 0.034). Serum levels of chemokine CXCL9 were also higher among patients with DPN but did not reach statistical significance (188.1 ± 72.7 and 150.4 ± 83.6 pg/mL, respectively, p = 0.06). Conclusions Increased circulating levels of CXCL10 were associated with DPN in T2D patients, suggesting a role of this chemokine in the DPN. Determination of CXCL10 levels could be used as a marker for early detection and implementation of therapeutic strategies in order to reverse and prevent the DPN.