Do inflammatory cytokine genes confer susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy?

Microinflammation has been recognized as an important process for the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 produced by infiltrating cells or renal cells, play important roles in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Although the mechanisms underlying the regulation of these cytokines in the kidneys of patients with diabetes mellitus remain unclear, genetic variations in the genes encoding the inflammatory cytokines might confer susceptibility to the disease by altering their functions or expressions.