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Association of interleukin-2, interleukin-21 and interleukin-23 with hyperlipidemia in pediatric type 1 diabetes

Molecular Biology Reports volume 48, pages 5421–5433 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

In type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), cytokines have a central role in orchestrating multicellular relations between β-cells and immune cells. This study aims to investigate the role of interleukin (IL)-21, IL-23, and IL-2, and their association with dyslipidemia in T1DM children.

Methods

The sample population consisted of 30 healthy controls and 70 children with T1DM, the latter of which were split into two groups according to the duration of their T1DM diagnosis: recent (≤ 1 year; n = 21) and older (> 1 year; n = 49) diagnoses.

Results

Fasting blood sugar and glycated hemoglobin levels in all diabetic children were significantly (P < 0.001) higher, whereas levels of plasma C-peptide were markedly (P < 0.001) lower in children with T1DM compared to healthy controls. In older T1DM diagnosis children, the levels of creatinine were noticeably (P < 0.05) increased relative to healthy controls. In all diabetic children, levels of total triglyceride, cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein were increased significantly (P < 0.001) than those of healthy controls. Furthermore, the IL-21 and IL-23 mRNA expressions of all children with T1DM were elevated significantly (P < 0.001) relative to healthy controls, whereas IL-2 levels revealed a significant (P < 0.001) decrease in all diabetic children.

Conclusion

There was a synergistic interplay between IL-21 and IL-23 with an antagonistic action of IL-2 in T1DM patients, and all three interleukins were associated with dyslipidemia in diabetic children. Importantly, therapies targeting IL-21 and IL-23 are promising targets for preventive strategies against the development of T1DM and its complications.

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Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

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Funding

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Immunology Division, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt

    Rehab G. Khalil

  2. Molecular Physiology Division, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Salah Salim St., Beni Suef, 62511, Egypt

    Adel Abdel-Moneim & Ahmed I. Yousef

  3. Biotechnology and Life Sciences Department, Faculty of Postgraduate Studies for Advanced Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt

    Hanan Abdel-Rahman, Mohamed I. Zanaty & Amr El-Sayed

Authors
  1. Rehab G. Khalil
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  2. Adel Abdel-Moneim
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  3. Ahmed I. Yousef
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. RGK, HA, AIY and MIZ analyzed the data and interpreted the data and prepared the manuscript for publication. RGK, AA and AE reviewed the draft of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Adel Abdel-Moneim.

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The research procedure was approved by the Hospital ethics committee in compliance with the Helsinki announcement and the recommendations for good clinical practice (BSU/FS/2016/12).

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Cite this article

Khalil, R.G., Abdel-Moneim, A., Yousef, A.I. et al. Association of interleukin-2, interleukin-21 and interleukin-23 with hyperlipidemia in pediatric type 1 diabetes. Mol Biol Rep 48, 5421–5433 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-021-06545-0

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Keywords

  • Type1 diabetes mellitus
  • Interleukin-2
  • Interleukin-21
  • Interleukin-23
  • Lipid profile