Transforming growth factor-beta1 and incident type 2 diabetes: results from the MONICA/KORA case-cohort study, 1984-2002.
OBJECTIVE
Subclinical inflammation leads to insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction. This study aimed to assess whether levels of circulating transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1)-a central, mainly immunosuppressive, and anti-inflammatory cytokine-were associated with incident type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
We measured serum levels of TGF-beta1 from 460 individuals with and 1,474 individuals without incident type 2 diabetes in a prospective case-cohort study within the population-based MONICA (MONItoring of Trends and Determinants in CArdiovascular Disease)/KORA (Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg) cohort.


RESULTS
Elevated TGF-beta1 concentrations were associated with higher, not lower, risk for type 2 diabetes (age-, sex-, and survey-adjusted hazard ratios [95% CI] for increasing TGF-beta1 tertiles: 1.0, 1.08 [0.83-1.42], and 1.41 [1.08-1.83]; P(for) (trend) = 0.012). Adjustment for BMI and metabolic and lifestyle factors had virtually no impact on the effect size.


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated serum concentrations of the cytokine TGF-beta1 indicate an increased risk for type 2 diabetes. TGF-beta1 may be upregulated to counterbalance metabolic and immunological disturbances preceding type 2 diabetes.
Herder
Christian
C
Institute of Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes Center, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Zierer
Astrid
A
Koenig
Wolfgang
W
Roden
Michael
M
Meisinger
Christa
C
Thorand
Barbara
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood*
D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1