title: Elevated levels of the anti-inflammatory interleukin-1 receptor antagonist precede the onset of type 2 diabetes: the Whitehall II study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), a natural inhibitor of interleukin-1 beta, has been shown to improve beta-cell function and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether baseline systemic levels of IL-1Ra are associated with incident type 2 diabetes during more than 10 years of follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured serum IL-1Ra concentrations in a nested case-control study (181 case and 376 age-, sex-, and BMI-matched normoglycemic control subjects) within the Whitehall II cohort (U.K.).
  
  
  RESULTS
  IL-1Ra concentrations were higher in case subjects (P = 0.0006) and associated with incident type 2 diabetes (odds ratio for a 1-SD increase of IL-1Ra 1.48 [95% CI 1.21-1.80]). This association remained significant after adjustment for multiple potential confounders but was attenuated by adjusting for 2-h glucose.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that individuals who will develop type 2 diabetes are characterized by a complex immune activation that also includes upregulation of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-1Ra.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes Center at Heinrich Heine University, Leibniz Institute for Diabetes Research, Düsseldorf, Germany. christian.herder@ddz.uni-duesseldorf.de
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herder
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Brunner
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rathmann
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Strassburger
authors.forename: Adam G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Tabák
authors.forename: Nanette C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Schloot
authors.forename: Daniel R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Witte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein