Hypoglycemia increases serum interleukin-6 levels in healthy men and women.
OBJECTIVE
Inflammation may have a major role in the pathogenesis and prognosis of critical illness. Hyperglycemia increases levels of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) and is associated with increased risks of morbidity and mortality. Because hypoglycemia is also associated with adverse outcomes, we tested the hypothesis that hypoglycemia increases IL-6.


METHODS
Seventeen healthy men and women participated in hypoglycemic and euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp studies (target blood glucose levels 2.7 and 5.0 mmol/l, respectively), separated by 1-3 months. IL-6, ACTH, and cortisol were measured at baseline and at 45, 75, 105, and 135 min after initiation of the insulin infusion.


RESULTS
IL-6, ACTH, and cortisol levels increased significantly (P < 0.0001) during hypoglycemia but not euglycemia. IL-6 increased from mean +/- SEM 1.0 +/- 0.2 pg/ml at baseline to 2.6 +/- 0.2 pg/ml after 135 min of hypoglycemia, whereas IL-6 levels were unchanged during euglycemia.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypoglycemia increases IL-6 levels in healthy individuals.
Dotson
Sarah
S
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Freeman
Roy
R
Failing
Hannah J
HJ
Adler
Gail K
GK
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000097:blood*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D015850:Interleukin-6; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone