title: Soluble T-cell markers and serum cytokines in type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus.
abstract: Markers of cell-mediated immune activation were studied in 32 Chinese patients with recent-onset insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) as compared with 12 patients with recent-onset non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and 34 normal subjects. Sera were assessed for soluble markers of T-cell activation (sCD4, sCD8, sIL-2R); the cytokines (IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, IL-2, IL-6), and T-cell subsets were also determined. Only 1 of the 32 IDDM patients had increased sCD4 levels, 5 had increased sCD8, and 3 had increased sIL-2R. None of the sera from NIDDM patients and control subjects showed such increased levels of soluble markers. Three IDDM patients had detectable IL-1 beta and this weakly so (< 3.5 pg/ml). However, the other cytokine data and the frequency of activated T-cells, CD4+, CD8+ T-cell subsets and CD4:CD8 ratio showed no significant differences among the IDDM, NIDDM and normal subjects. Our data suggest that in addition to a low frequency of islet cell antibodies, Chinese patients with recent onset IDDM also showed a lack of serum markers of cellular activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, National University of Singapore.
authors.forename: W Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Thai
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Cheah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines