Diabetic and
alcoholic neuropathies are heterogeneous groups with variable lesions of axons or myelin. Their pathogenesis is complex and involves multiple pathways. To elucidate the impact of
immunological factors in development of these neuropathies the expression of some
cytokines in serum was studied: tumour
necrosis factor a (TNF-a),
monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and growth-regulated oncogene alpha (GRO-alpha; CXCL1). 29 patients with
type 2 diabetes, 31 with chronic
alcohol abuse and 20 healthy controls were included in the study. The type of neuropathy (involvement of axon or myelin) was evaluated by electrophysiological methods (EMG and nerve conduction velocity). The
cytokine level was determined by ELISA method. For statistical comparison the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test was used. The evaluated material was divided according to clinical duration of neuropathy and electrophysiological pattern. Expression of
TNF-alpha in both types of neuropathy does not differ from the control material. Expression of MCP-1 was higher, but insignificantly, in patients with
alcoholic neuropathy. The same concerns the demyelinating form versus axonal
diabetic neuropathy. Serum level of GRO-alpha; was significantly higher in patients with
alcoholic neuropathy and in cases with demyelinating form of
diabetic neuropathy than in control subjects. GRO-alpha; is a potent neutrophil
chemoattractant playing an important role in various primary and secondary inflammatory processes. The results suggest that GRO-alpha; may contribute to the mechanism of
alcoholic neuropathy and in demyelinating form of
diabetic neuropathy.