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Cytokine Secretion in Long-standing Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 and 2: Associations with Low-grade Systemic Inflammation

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Abstract

Low-grade systemic chronic inflammation is a very well-known feature of diabetes mellitus (DM). The purpose of this study was the assessment of the proinflammatory cytokine secretion profile in long-standing diabetes along with the presence of features of systemic inflammation. Metabolic parameters and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were determined in 20 patients with type 1 DM and 21 patients with type 2 DM and compared to 34 healthy subjects. The number of cytokine-secreting peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), before and after mitogenic stimulation, was also determined in the same groups. Adverse lipid profile, higher levels of inflammatory markers, and higher count of cytokine-secreting cells were observed more prevalently in type 2 diabetics than in controls. After stimulation, the increase in number of cytokine-secreting cells was higher in controls. In conclusion, patients with DM have evidence of low-grade inflammation and abnormal PBMC function that could be related to long-term sequelae, the accelerated atherosclerotic process, and the susceptibility to infections.

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Acknowledgements

Dr K. Alexandraki has been awarded with a scholarship from Alexander S. Onassis, public benefit foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Krystallenia I. Alexandraki, Christina Piperi & Anastasios Kalofoutis

  2. Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pathophysiology, Laiko University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Krystallenia I. Alexandraki, Panayiotis D. Ziakas, Vassiliki Syriou & Gregory Kaltsas

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Homerton University Hospital, London, UK

    Nikolaos V. Apostolopoulos

  4. Diabetologic Center, First Department of Propedeutic Medicine, Laiko University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Konstantinos Makrilakis

  5. Division of Endocrinology, First Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Evanthia Diamanti-Kandarakis

  6. University of Athens Medical School, M. Asias 75, 11527, Goudi, Athens, Greece

    Anastasios Kalofoutis

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  1. Krystallenia I. Alexandraki
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Correspondence to Anastasios Kalofoutis.

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Alexandraki, K.I., Piperi, C., Ziakas, P.D. et al. Cytokine Secretion in Long-standing Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 and 2: Associations with Low-grade Systemic Inflammation. J Clin Immunol 28, 314–321 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10875-007-9164-1

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