Abstract
To explore the correlation between peripheral blood α1-microglobulin (α1-MG) and monocyte DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) expression and the severity of renal pathological damage in diabetic nephropathy (DN). The study group comprised 100 patients with DN who underwent treatment at our hospital from January 2022 to January 2023, while the control group consisted of 50 patients with uncomplicated diabetes. The relative expression levels of peripheral blood α1-MG and DNMT1 were compared between the 2 groups of patients. Additionally, the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured, and the diagnostic value of DN was explored using ROC curves. Furthermore, the correlation between the aforementioned indicators and the severity of renal pathological damage in the patients of the study group was analyzed. Compared to the patients in the control group, the patients in the study group showed increased relative expression levels of peripheral blood α1-MG and DNMT1, as well as elevated levels of VEGF (P < .05). The diagnostic value of peripheral blood α1-MG, DNMT1 relative expression levels, and VEGF levels for DN was explored using ROC curves. The AUC values were 0.907, 0.923, and 0.936, respectively (P < .05). The relative expression levels of peripheral blood α1-MG, DNMT1, and VEGF levels in DN patients increase with the elevation of the interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy scoring (IFTA) score, showing a positive correlation with r-values of 0.651, 0.710, and 0.628, respectively (P < .05). The relative expression levels of peripheral blood α1-MG, DNMT1, and VEGF levels in DN patients increase with the elevation of the interstitial inflammation score, showing a positive correlation with r-values of 0.771, 0.633, and 0.678, respectively (P < .05). The relative expression levels of peripheral blood α1-MG, DNMT1, and VEGF levels in DN patients increase with the elevation of the glomerular grading, showing a positive correlation with r-values of 0.714, 0.609, and 0.677, respectively (P < .05). The expression levels of peripheral blood α1-MG, DNMT1, and VEGF are significantly elevated in patients with DN. These levels show a positive correlation with the IFTA score, interstitial inflammation score, and glomerular grading, contributing to the diagnosis and assessment of DN.