AIM: To observe the changes of chemokine macrophage inflammatory protein(MIP-1α)and MIP-1β in peripheral blood of patients with diabetic retinopathy and to analyze its clinical significance.

METHODS: The patients with diabetic retinopathy(DM group), monproli fertive diabetic retinopathy(NPDR group)and proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR group)were selected in Foshan Fifth People's Hospital and the Fourth People's Hospital of Nanhai District, Foshan. There were 50 patients were treated in each group, and 50 healthy persons(control group)were selected for the same period. The differences in the levels of chemokine MIP-1 alpha, MIP-1 beta, blood glucose and cytokines in peripheral blood of patients with different groups were observed. The correlation between the levels of chemokine MIP-1α and MIP-1β of peripheral blood in patients with diabetic retinopathy and the level of blood glucose and cytokines was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis.

RESULTS: The levels of MIP-1α, MIP-1β and mean blood glucose(MBG)in the DM group were higher than those in the control group(t=6.306, 2.954, 3.617; P<0.05). The levels of insulin like growth factor-1(IGF-1), fibroblast growth factor-21(FGF-21)and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in DM group were higher than those in control group(t=27.216, 7.778, 3.214; P<0.05). The levels of MIP-1α, MIP-1β and MBG in PDR group were higher than those in NPDR group(t=6.620, 3.461, 3.378; P<0.05). The levels of IGF-1, FGF-21 and VEGF in PDR group were higher than those in NPDR group(t=10.260, 12.611, 4.108; P<0.05). The level of MIP-1α and MIP-1β in patients with diabetic retinopathy is positively correlated with the levels of MBG, IGF-1, FGF-21 and VEGF.

CONCLUSION: The levels of MIP-1α and MIP-1β in patients with PDR are relatively high, and are positively correlated with blood glucose and cytokines levels.