title: Cytokine plasma levels and lymphocyte subsets in patients with newly diagnosed insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetes mellitus before and following initial insulin treatment.
abstract: Changes in the plasma concentrations of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), interleukin 2 (IL-2), and lymphocyte subsets were investigated in 19 persons with newly diagnosed (type 1) insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) from admission to hospital prior to insulin treatment and following 1 week and 1 month of treatment. Furthermore, the cytokines were measured 16-28 months after the presentation of IDDM. The mean TNF alpha values were all within the normal range, but demonstrated a slight increase in all the samples taken (Friedman 0.06). The mean plasma IL-1 beta value was initially at the upper normal limit, but gradually increased significantly from admission to hospital to 1 week, 1 month, and 16-28 months afterwards (Friedman 0.031). No IL-2 activity was detectable in the majority of the samples. No significant changes in total leukocyte and lymphocyte counts were found. The lymphocyte subsets (CD5+, CD8+, CD4+, CD16+, CD20+, HLA-DR+) did not show any significant changes from admission to after the start of insulin treatment. It is concluded that the gradual increase in IL-1 beta and TNF alpha plasma levels may reflect an ongoing autoimmune inflammatory reaction at the onset of IDDM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Aalborg Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Espersen
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mathiesen
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grunnet
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ditzel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D016207:Cytokines; D007328:Insulin; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha