Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Irish Journal of Medical Science, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) constitutes a significant global health challenge due to its association with elevated morbidity and mortality rates. Diabetic nephropathy is a primary contributor to CKD progression, predominantly resulting from persistent inflammatory and fibrotic processes. CXCL12 is a multifunctional chemokine that has been implicated in renal pathology through context-dependent protective and deleterious effects. Aim: This study aimed to investigate circulating CXCL12 and CXCR4 levels in patients with diabetic nephropathy, and non-diabetic nephropathy, and to evaluate their association with disease severity. Methods: This study included 177 participants comprising 60 patients with diabetic nephropathy, 57 patients with non-diabetic nephropathy, and 60 healthy controls. Plasma CXCL12 and CXCR4 concentrations were measured using ELISA method. The Kruskal–Wallis test and subsequent post hoc analyses were used to compare groups. ROC curve analysis evaluated the diagnostic value of the biomarkers. Also, binary logistic regression identified independent predictors of CKD. Results: CXCL12 concentrations differed significantly between study groups and were highest in patients with diabetic nephropathy. CXCL12 levels increased with advancing CKD stage in the overall cohort. While no significant stage-related variation was observed in diabetic nephropathy, a pronounced stage-dependent increase was evident in non-diabetic nephropathy. CXCR4 levels showed minimal variation and weaker associations with disease stage. CXCL12 demonstrated good discriminatory performance and independently predicted CKD presence. Conclusion: Elevated CXCL12 levels are strongly associated with CKD irrespective of underlying etiology and may represent a valuable biomarker for disease detection and progression, particularly in non-diabetic CKD.