Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
Tear-Derived Exosomal miR-15a as New Diagnostic Tool for Diabetic Retinopathy
Published on: December 30, 2025
Serum TNF-alpha level predicts nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy in children
Katarzyna Zorena1, Jolanta Myśliwska, Małgorzata Myśliwiec
1Department of Immunology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Debinki 1, 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland.
Insights
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a key immunologic marker for early diabetic retinopathy in children with type 1 diabetes. Targeting TNF-alpha may prevent eye damage in these young patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Ophthalmology
- Immunology
Background:
- Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision loss in children with type 1 diabetes (DM type 1).
- Early identification of immunologic markers predicting eye damage is crucial for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify immunologic markers associated with early-stage eye damage in children with DM type 1.
- To assess the predictive value of serum cytokines, including TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-12, for nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR).
Main Methods:
- Serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-12 were measured using ELISA in 111 children with DM type 1.
- Participants were categorized into groups with and without NPDR.
- Clinical data including HbA1c, albumin excretion, and blood pressure were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Children with NPDR had longer disease duration, higher HbA1c, albumin excretion, C-reactive protein, systolic blood pressure, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 levels.
- Logistic regression identified TNF-alpha as a significant predictor of NPDR (OR 4.01).
Conclusions:
- TNF-alpha is a critical immunologic marker for early eye apparatus damage in children with DM type 1.
- Early administration of TNF-alpha antagonists may prevent the development of diabetic retinopathy in high-risk pediatric patients.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was identification of the immunologic markers of the damage to the eye apparatus at early stages of diabetes mellitus (DM) type 1 children. One hundred and eleven children with DM type 1 were divided into two groups: those with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and without retinopathy. All the children had their daily urine albumin excretion, HbA1c, C-peptide measured, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, and ophthalmologic examination. Levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-12 in serum were measured by ELISA tests (Quantikine High Sensitivity Human by R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn, USA). The NPDR children demonstrated a significantly longer duration of the disease in addition to higher HbA1c, albumin excretion rate, C-reactive protein, systolic blood pressure, as well as TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels than those without retinopathy. The logistic regression revealed that the risk of NPDR was strongly dependent on TNF-alpha [(OR 4.01; 95%CI 2.01-7.96)]. TNF-alpha appears to be the most significant predictor among the analyzed parameters of damage to the eye apparatus. The early introduction of the TNF-alpha antagonists to the treatment of young patients with DM type 1 who show high serum activity of the TNF-alpha may prevent them from development of diabetic retinopathy.
