Diagnostic Potential of Interleukin-40 and Interleukin-41 in Diabetic Kidney Disease

Background: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a significant microvascular consequence of diabetes mellitus and a predominant cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) globally. Recent studies have emphasized the significance of inflammatory mediators in the etiology and prognosis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). However, the impact of certain cytokines, such as Interleukin-40 (IL-40) and Interleukin-41 (IL-41),has not been adequately elucidated with limited published data. Objectives: This study aimed to demonstrate the diagnostic potential of IL-40 and IL-41 in individuals with diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Methodology: This case-control study enrolled 84 participants (42 DKD patients and 42 healthy controls). The serum levels of IL-40 and IL-41 were measured using ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, and the diagnostic value of IL-40 and IL-41 was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: The investigation demonstrated a markable decrease in IL-40 and IL-41 concentrations in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) compared to healthy controls (IL-40: 15.791 ± 8.012 pg/mL vs. 29.859 ± 8.742 pg/mL, p = 0.0002; IL-41: 0.525 ± 0.649 pg/mL vs. 3.013 ± 0.983 pg/mL, p = 0.0004). Moreover, the ROC curve analysis indicated that IL-41 exhibited greater diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 98.394%) than IL-40 (AUC = 89.646%), with elevated sensitivity (95.238%) and specificity (95.349%). Conclusion: The marked decrease in IL-40 and IL-41 levels in patients with DKD indicates their possible function as immunological indicators of disease progression. Assessing IL-40 and IL-41 concentrations, in conjunction with additional inflammatory markers, may enhance early identification and management of diabetic kidney disease (DKD).