Background and purpose: Diabetic foot ulcer is a complication of type 2 diabetes. Various factors, such as changes in the level of cytokines (especially IL-1β) can interfere with the development of diabetic foot ulcer. Several factors affect the level of IL-1β levels, including the rate of neurotransmitter, especially dopamine and its receptors. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in IL-1β and dopamine DRD2 receptor in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in diabetic foot ulcers.
Materials and methods: In a cross sectional comparative study, peripheral blood samples were collected from 31 subjects with diabetic foot ulcer, 29 without ulcer, and 25 healthy individuals (control). Total mRNA was extracted from PBMCs and cDNA was synthesized to study the DRD2 and il-1β gene expression variations by real time PCR. Concentration of il-1β was also investigated in sera.
Results: Significant decrease was seen in gene expression and sera concentration of il-1β in PBMCs in diabetic patients with foot ulcer. There was also a significant reduction in the expression of DRD2 receptor gene in patients with and without foot ulcer.
Conclusion: Reduction of IL-1β expression seems to be related to changes in the expression of DRD2 receptor gene. Therefore, after supplementary studies, reducing the expression of DRD2 could be regarded as a prognostic factor and as an effective factor in the spread of diabetic foot ulcer.
 

Keywords: diabetes, foot ulcer, dopamine receptor, gene expression changes, Il-1β

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