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  • Evaluation and association of serum melatonin levels and the status of pro-angiogenic factors in urine samples of diabetic patients with and without nephropathy
  • sama yousefi,1 Seyed Mostafa Mir,2,* Jahanbakhsh Asadi,3 Fatemeh Mohammad Zadeh,4 Mohammed Radha Jawad Alyasari,5 Maryam Abolghasemi,6
    1. Golestan University of Medical Sciences
    2. Golestan University of Medical Sciences
    3. Golestan University of Medical Sciences
    4. Golestan University of Medical Sciences
    5. Golestan University of Medical Sciences
    6. Golestan University of Medical Sciences


  • Introduction: Diabetic nephropathy, which is a frequent complication of diabetes mellitus, is marked by an elevation in the production of pro-angiogenic substances and a reduction in the creation of anti-angiogenic molecules as a result of elevated blood sugar levels. Angiogenesis, which refers to the formation of new blood vessels, plays a significant role in diabetes. Melatonin has diverse impacts on angiogenesis depending on the particular physiological or pathological circumstances. Furthermore, there are various cytokines and growth factors that regulate angiogenesis, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). Moreover, there is evidence suggesting that nitric oxide (NO) can play a dual role in angiogenesis, acting both as a participant and a regulator. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the levels of melatonin in the blood and the levels of VEGF, TGF-β, and NO in urine samples from diabetic patients with and without nephropathy. Additionally, the study aimed to investigate any potential relationship between melatonin levels and the levels of factors related to angiogenesis.
  • Methods: Ninety participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus, including 45 diabetic patients with nephropathy and 45 diabetic patients without nephropathy, were enrolled in this case-control study. The serum melatonin levels and urinary levels of VEGF and TGF-β were measured using an ELISA kit, and the NO level was measured using a colorimetric method.
  • Results: The findings showed that diabetic patients with nephropathy had significantly higher levels of VEGF, TGF-β, and NO in their urine compared to diabetic patients without nephropathy (P = 0.005, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively). However, there was no notable difference in melatonin levels in the blood between diabetic patients with and without nephropathy (P = 0.154). Additionally, there was no significant association observed between melatonin levels and the levels of VEGF, TGF-β, and NO.
  • Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed increased urinary levels of VEGF, TGF-β, and NO in diabetic patients with nephropathy compared to diabetic patients without nephropathy.
  • Keywords: Diabetic nephropathy, Melatonin, Vascular endothelial growth factor, Transforming growth factor beta