FAS AND FAS LIGAND EXPRESSION IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

D iabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high plasma glucose caused by an impairment of insulin production, insulin action or both. Type 1 diabetes mellitus is potentially associated with serious microvascular and macrovascular complications. Diabetic nephropathy is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus. Multiple markers of renal dysfunction, either tubular or glomerular, can appear before the detection of microalbuminuria, suggesting that microalbuminuria occurs once significant kidney damage has already occurred. Fas and its ligand are typical members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily. Similar to other members of this family, FasL induces apoptosis or programmed cell death when bound to its receptor Fas. However, depending on the conditions, Fas/FasL interactions may be related to augmentation of inflammatory response. Signals initiated by regulated Fas-associated death domain protein overexpression in the carotid artery induce expression of monocyte-chemoattractant protein-1 and interleukin (IL)-8, and cause massive migration of macrophages in vivo, indicating that Fas and Fas ligand act also as proinflammatory proteins.