[Plasma levels of interleukin-1beta, interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 in recently diagnosed type 1 diabetic children and their association with beta-pancreatic autoantibodies].
BACKGROUND
Type 1 diabetes is an organ specific autoimmune disease whose incidence is increasing worldwide. A functional imbalance in cytokine production resulting in dominance of T helper (Th1) over Th2-type response has been suggested to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes.


OBJECTIVE
To measure serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-2 and IL-4 in children with recently diagnosed type 1 diabetes and to evaluate the autoimmune response measuring glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65) and tyrosine phosphatase like (IA-2) autoantibodies.


METHODS
120 diabetic children and 118 age and gender matched control children, were recruited for this study. Circulating levels of IL-1beta IL-2 and IL-4 were measured by ELISA. GAD65 and IA-2 were measured by RIA.


RESULTS
Circulating levels of IL-1beta were elevated in type 1 diabetic children as compared to the control group (9.3 +/- 7.3 and 4.9 +/- 3.8 pg/ml respectively, p=0.01). Serum concentration of IL-2 was also higher in diabetic patients (19.8 +/- 13.1 and 113 +/- 9.1 pg/ml respectively, p=0.01). No differences in serum IL-4 were observed between diabetics and control. Diabetic children with one or two positive autoantibodies (IA-2 and/or GAD65) had significantly higher levels of IL-1beta and IL-2 and lower levels of IL-4 than diabetic children without positive autoantibodies. High concentrations of IL-1beta were associated with an early onset of the disease.


CONCLUSIONS
High levels of IL-1beta and IL-2 were found in diabetic children with recent diagnosis of the disease. Diabetics with positive antibodies against GAD65 and IA-2 had higher levels of IL-1beta and IL-2 and lower levels of IL-4 than their counterparts without positive antibodies.
Pérez
Francisco
F
Programa de Epidemiología Genética, Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Universidad de Chile. fperez@inta.cl
Oyarzún
Amaya
A
Carrasco
Elena
E
Angel
Bárbara
B
Albala
Cecilia
C
Santos
J Luis
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007378:Interleukins; D015847:Interleukin-4
Niveles plasmáticos de citoquinas IL-1beta, IL2 e IL-4 en niños diabéticos tipo 1 de diagnóstico reciente y su asociación con anticuerpos beta pancreáticos.