Urinary TNF-α and NGAL are correlated with the progression of nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of the proinflammatory marker tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and the tubular marker neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) with the progression of the early stage of type 2 diabetic nephropathy (DN). Baseline levels of urinary TNF-α and NGAL were measured in 63 non-diabetic controls and 201 patients with type 2 diabetes and different albuminuria statuses. The patients with diabetes (n=125) with normo- or microalbuminuria were subsequently followed-up for 28 (25–32) months, with routine measurements of creatinine and urinary albumin excretion (UAE). It was observed that baseline levels of urinary TNF-α and NGAL were significantly elevated and correlated with the severity of albuminuria in patients with diabetes. During the follow-up, the urinary levels of TNF-α and NGAL were observed to be significantly correlated with a rapid decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Following adjustment for other progression promoters, including albuminuria, TNF-α remained a significant predictor of eGFR decline. These results suggest that inflammation is important in the pathogenesis of DN and indicate that TNF-α may be used as an independent predictor for the progression of DN at the early stage.