Abstract:

Objective: Proinflammatory and neurovascular changes are blamed in the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy. Although it is accepted that diabetes is a trigger for vascular inflammation, it has been suggested that inflammation itself may trigger diabetes. Interleukin-23 (IL-23) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine secreted by activated macrophages and dendritic cells. Interleukin-23R is known to have a critical role in chronic inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between IL-23R polymorphism and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Method: 50 diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients who applied to Neurology outpatient clinic, and 52 healthy controls compatible with the patient group in terms of age and gender were included. Electromyography was performed on all of the volunteers, who agreed to participate in the study, and 2 ml of blood samples were taken into tubes with EDTA, and the IL-23R gene polymorphism was analyzed using the pyrosequencing method. Results: IL-23R gene variants rs2201841, rs199542433, rs201052419, rs11209026 were analyzed in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) patients and control group. While we investigate IL23R polymorphisms we didn’t find any significant differences between patient and control groups. But when we use odds ratios, rs2201841 seems to have a protective role, and rs199542433 in both dominant and recessive models and rs11209026 only recessive model seem to be related 10 fold higher risks for DPN. Conclusion: IL-23R gene polymorphism has been shown to be associated with many autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. It is known that inflammation has an important effect on diabetes. The frequency of IL-23R gene polymorphism was not significant in diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Our study is the only and first study investigating the role of IL-23R gene polymorphism in diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Ethnicity is very important in genetic studies, and it will give us more clear information for the future to carry out this study in patients with other ethnic origins and to recruit larger study groups.

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