Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) is serious diabetic complication affecting the structure and function of the kidney. This study assessed the stimulator of interferon genes/ Interferon regulatory factor 3 (STING/IRF3) signaling pathway roles and inflammasome-activation mediated pyroptosis, being imperative pathways of inordinate importance in disease progression, in DN throughout its different stages.

The study documented the forthcoming role of STING in DN progression and its positive correlation with inflammasome-activation mediated pyroptosis biomarkers throughout its three different stages; launching new horizons in DN pathogenesis by highlighting its role as a reliable prognostic biomarker.

45 Diabetic cases were categorized into three groups based on their albuminuric status as follow: Normoalbuminuric, Microalbuminuric and Macroalbuminuric diabetic groups and 15 healthy subjects as controls were included. We evaluated STING and absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions from whole blood using quantitative RT-PCR. Additionally, Serum levels of STING, AIM2, IRF3, Nod like receptor pyrins-3 (NLRP3), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and caspase-1 were assessed by ELISA technique.

The study documented that STING and AIM2 mRNA expressions had significantly increased in DN cases with highest value in macroalbuminuric diabetic groups (p < 0.001*). Parallel results were observed concerning serum STING, AIM2, IRF3, NLRP3, Caspase-1 in addition to IL-1β levels (p < 0.001*).