Is calprotectin a novel biomarker of neuroinflammation in diabetic periferal neuropathy?

BACKGROUND In the present study, we aimed to investigate serum calprotectin levels in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and possible role of this molecule in the disease pathogenesis. METHOD Twenty nine patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, 30 type 2 diabetic patients without neuropathy, and 40 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), high-density lipoprotein- cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein- cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol, triglyceride, HbA1c, calprotectin and hsCRP levels were measured in diabetic and healthy control groups. RESULTS Serum calprotectin and hsCRP levels were significantly higher in patients with and without neuropathy than healthy controls (p < 0.001, p = 0.017, p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). Serum calprotectin and hsCRP levels were higher in diabetics with neuropathy than the ones without (p = 0.021 and p < 0.001, respectively). The positive correlation was detected between calprotectin levels and hsCRP and HbA1c in Spearman correlation analysis (r = 0.510, p < 0.001; r = 0.437, p < 0.001 respectively). The results of multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated the important association between neuropathy development and hsCRP and serum calprotectin levels in diabetic individuals. CONCLUSION Seum calprotectin levels were increased in diabetic peripheral neuropathy. It may have a role in the pathogenesis of the disease.