1. INCREASED CIRCULATING SERUM LEVELS OF TGFβ-1 AND IL-6 ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRESSION OF CΗRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE IN ATHEROSCLEROTIC PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY Grigorios G. Dimas 1, Fotios S. Iliadis 1, Thomas J. Tegos 2, Sofia G. Spiroglou 3, Ilias E. Kanellos 1, Ioannis M. Karamouzis 3, Christos G. Savopoulos 1, Apostolos I. Hatzitolios 1, Dimitrios M. Grekas 1. 1 1st Propaedeutic Medical Department of Internal Medicine, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece 2 1st Neurology Medical Department, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece 3 Biochemistry Laboratory, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

2. Background Transforming growth factor β-1 (TGF-β1) is involved nowadays in atherosclerosis and proteinuria. Conflicting studies cannot establish at present a clear role for TGF-β1 in the pathogenesis of diabetic albuminuria and atherosclerosis. Interleukine-6 (IL-6) is considered to be pro- inflammatory lipocytokine.

3. Aim Transforming growth factor β-1 (TGF-β1) is involved nowadays in atherosclerosis and proteinuria. Conflicting studies cannot establish at present a clear role for TGF-β1 in the pathogenesis of diabetic albuminuria and atherosclerosis. Interleukine-6 (IL-6) is considered to be pro- inflammatory lipocytokine.

4. Methods CKD patients of stages 1 and 2 with type 2 DN (n=50) were included. As controls, there were healthy individuals (n=40). TGF-β1 and IL-6 levels were measured by an ELISA method. Intima media thickness (IMT) of carotid and femoral arteries and atheromatic plaque were evaluated by a high resolution ultrasonography.

5. Results There was a statistically significant difference between TGF-β1 (10000±1200, p<0.0001), IL-6 (4±0.5, p<0.0001), albuminuria (300±150, p<0.0001) and IMT (0.3±0.09, p<0.0001) between patients and controls. There was a statistically significant positive strong correlation between TGF-β1 and IL- 6 (r= 0.65, p<0.0001), TGF-β1 and albuminuria (r= 0.7, p<0.0001), such as TGF-β1 and IMT (r= 0.65, p<0.0001) in the patient group. There was also a statistically positive correlation between IL-6 and IMT (r= 0.7, p<0.0001) and IL-6 and albuminuria (r= 0.7, p<0.0001) in the patient group.

6. Conclusion Our study suggests that serum levels of TGF-β1 and IL-6 might present independent risk factors of atherosclerosis and albuminuria, at least in the early stages of DN to the progression of CKD.