Aims/IntroductionThe present study aimed to determine the associations between expressions of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1), tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF
165) in serum, and occurrence and development of type 2 diabetic nephropathy (DN).Materials and MethodsA total of 108 patients diagnosed as DN were randomly selected, including 50 patients in the microalbuminuria group, 44 patients in the macroalbuminuria group and 14 patients in the renal insufficiency group. Meanwhile, 97 healthy people were collected as a normal control group. Urinary albumin (UALB) and urine creatinine (Cr) of all participants were measured for 24 h, with their ratio (UALB/Cr) being calculated. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the serum concentrations of IGF‐1, TNF‐α and VEGF
165.ResultsThe expressions of serum IGF‐1, TNF‐α and VEGF
165 in the type 2 DN patients were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P < 0.05). The expressions of serum IGF‐1, TNF‐α and VEGF
165 in the type 2 DN patients were positively correlated with UALB/Cr (all P < 0.05). As type 2 DN worsened, the expressions of serum IGF‐1, TNF‐α and VEGF
165 increased, and type 2 DN severity had positive correlations with serum IGF‐1, TNF‐α and VEGF
165 concentrations (all P < 0.05). There was a positive association between IGF‐1 and TNF‐α, IGF‐1 and VEGF
165, and TNF‐α and VEGF
165 (all P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that IGF‐1 and VEGF
165 were associated with the progression of DN (both P < 0.05).ConclusionsElevated expression levels of serum IGF‐1, TNF‐α and VEGF
165 might exacerbate type 2 DN.