Table 1.

Cytokines involved in DN pathogenesis.

Cytokines	Cell Source	Cell Target	Functions	References
IL-1	Monocytes, macrophages, fibroblasts epithelial cells, endothelial cells, astrocytes	T cells, B cells, endothelial cells	Costimulatory molecule activation, acute phase reactants	(66–68)
IL-2	T cells, NK cells	T cells, B cells, monocytes	Growth and activation	(69)
IL-6	T cells, macrophages, fibroblasts	T cells, B cells	Costimulatory molecule activation, acute phase reactants	(70, 71)
IL-10	T cells	Macrophages, T cells	Inhibits APC activity and cytokine production	(72)
IL-18	Monocytes, macrophages, T cells, proximal tubular cells	T cells, NK cells	Costimulatory molecule activation, acute phase reactants	(73–75)
TNF-α	Macrophages, monocytes, T cells	T cells, B cells, endothelial cells	Costimulatory molecule activation, acute phase reactants	(68, 76–78)
TGF-β	Macrophages, T cells	Macrophages, T cells	Inhibits activation and growth	(79–81)
IFN-γ	T cells, NK cells	Monocytes, macrophages, endothelial cells	Activation increased class I and II MHC	(82)