Biomarkers of Apoptosis in diabetic patients

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion and/or function. The chronic hyperglycemia of diabetes is associated with long-term damage, dysfunction and failure of various organs especially nerves and blood vessels. The relationship between dysregulation of apoptosis and complication of diabetes were suggested in literature. Cytokines such as TNF-a and sFasL play an important role in the complex biochemistry of apoptosis signaling. These ligands induce apoptosis by binding to their specific receptors was and TNF-. RI. In addition, oxidative stress was reported in diabetes and could induce apoptosis.The present study population consisted of 60 consequentially admitted diabetic patients (25 male and 35 female). Diabetic patients were subdivided into two groups, the first group was type I (30 patients) and the second group was type II (30 patients). The type I diabetic patients were further subdivided into 11 non-complicated patients and 19 with diabetic microvascular complication represented neuropathy. Similarly, type II diabetic patients were also subdivided into 10 non-complicated patients and 20 with diabetic microvascular complication represented neuropathy.Twenty-five healthy volunteers were studied as controls. They were subdivided into two groups according to age and body mass index to match either type I or Type II patients groups. First subgroup (n = 13) was in the age range of 17 — 20 ys and was considered as the control group of type I diabetic patients. The second group (n = 14) was in the age range of 35 —52 ys and was considered the control group of type II diabetic patients. Each group of control matched the comparable diabetic group for age, sex and body mass index.