TY - JOUR N2 - I n t r o d u c t i o n: RANTES regulates leukocyte recruitment to areas affected by the inflammatory process. Microvesicles (MVs) belong to a subpopulation of extracellular vesicles and show proangiogenic potential by transferring bioactive molecules to target cells. Obj e c t i v e s: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between circulating proangiogenic factors (MVs and RANTES) and diabetes complications in patients with different severities of diabetic retinopathy (DR). CCR5 (CD195) receptors transported by annexin V-labeled MVs were also investigated. Patients and Methods: Diabetic patients (n = 61), among whom 35 had confirmed DR classified according to guidelines, and controls (n = 25) were included. MVs were isolated by centrifugation and analyzed using flow cytometry, RANTES was assessed by ELISA. R e s u l t s: T h e study group diff ered from the control group with respect to BMI, age, heart rate and systolic blood pressure. Additionally, glucose and creatinine concentrations were signifi cantly increased: 5.30 [5.09–5.62] vs. 9.38 [7.48–11.55] (p<0.0001) mmol/l and 74.59 [64–84] vs. 89.00 [77.11–105.44] μmol/l (p = 0.0005), respectively. RANTES concentrations were significantly increased in diabetic patients compared to those of controls (15.5 (9.7–18.1) vs. 8.9 (0.9–14.6) μg/ml (p = 0.011)), and RANTES concentration significantly increased with respect to nonproliferative DR progression. Moreover, the number of CCR5-positive MVs was significantly increased in patients with heavy nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (HNPDR) compared to those with soft nonproliferative DR (SNPDR): 1178 [836–2254] vs. 394 [275–799] counts/μl. C o n c l u s i o n s: Correlation of RANTES concentrations with the stage of nonproliferative DR and the statistically significant dependence of CCR5-positive MVs with disease progression suggest that MVs and RANTES can be considered new biomarkers. L1 - http://journals.pan.pl/Content/114543/PDF/FMC%203-19%209-Tokarz.pdf L2 - http://journals.pan.pl/Content/114543 PY - 2019 IS - No 3 EP - 112 DO - 10.24425/fmc.2019.131139 KW - biomarkers KW - diabetic retinopathy KW - ectosomes KW - microangiopathy A1 - Tokarz, Aleksandra A1 - Konkolewska, Magda A1 - Kuśnierz-Cabala, Beata A1 - Maziarz, Barbara A1 - Hanarz, Patryk A1 - Żurakowski, Aleksander A1 - Szuścik, Iwona A1 - Stępień, Ewa Łucja PB - Oddział PAN w Krakowie; Uniwersytet Jagielloński – Collegium Medicum VL - vol. 59 DA - 2019.12.28 T1 - Retinopathy severity correlates with RANTES concentrations and CCR5-positive microvesicles in diabetes SP - 95 UR - http://journals.pan.pl/dlibra/publication/edition/114543 T2 - Folia Medica Cracoviensia ER -