Elevated Levels of T-helper 17-associated Cytokines in Diabetes Type I Patients: Indicators for Following the Course of Disease.
BACKGROUND
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is thought to involve chronic inflammation, which is manifested by the activation and expression of different inflammatory mediators. Th1- and Th17-associated cytokines are factors that have been shown to exert profound pro-inflammatory activities and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of T1D in mice and humans.


OBJECTIVE
Therefore, the aim of this case control study was to determine the serum level of IL-17, IL-21, IL-27, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), and IFN-γ and their reciprocal relationship in Iranian T1D patients.


METHODS
Blood samples were collected from 48 T1D patients and 49 healthy individuals with no history of malignancies or autoimmune disorders based on simple sampling. The serum levels of IL-17, IL-21, IL-27, TGF-β, and IFN-γ were measured by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
The serum levels of IL-17 and IL-21 were significantly higher in T1D patients compared to the healthy individuals (p = 0.005 and 0.01, respectively), but interestingly, the opposite was the case for IL-27 (p < 0.0001). However, there were no significant differences in TGF-β and IFN-γ between both groups. In addition, IL-17/IFN-γ and IL-17/IL-27 ratios were higher in patients compared to the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicated dominant Th17-associated IL-17, suggesting a shift from the Treg and Th1 phenotypes toward the Th17 phenotype. Therefore, it can promote inflammation in β cells in T1D. In addition, it suggests the role of Th17 and Th17/Th1 ratios as a potential contributor to β cells destruction and the Th17/Th1 response ratio may provide a novel biomarker for rapid T1D diagnosis before the destruction of β cells and progression of the disease to the clinical end stages.
a Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine , Jahrom University of Medical Sciences , Jahrom , Iran.
Rasoul
R
Baharlou
a Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine , Jahrom University of Medical Sciences , Jahrom , Iran.
Abbas
A
Ahmadi-Vasmehjani
a Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine , Jahrom University of Medical Sciences , Jahrom , Iran.
Mohammad Hasan
MH
Davami
a Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine , Jahrom University of Medical Sciences , Jahrom , Iran.
Fatemeh
F
Faraji
a Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine , Jahrom University of Medical Sciences , Jahrom , Iran.
Mohammd Reza
MR
Atashzar
b Department of Nursing, School of Nursing , Jahrom University of Medical Sciences , Jahrom , Iran.
Firoozeh
F
Karimipour
c Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine , Jahrom University of Medical Sciences , Jahrom , Iran.
Alireza
A
Sadeghi
d Department of Student Research Committee, School of Medicine , Jahrom University of Medical Sciences , Jahrom , Iran.
Mohammad-Ali
MA
Asadi
d Department of Student Research Committee, School of Medicine , Jahrom University of Medical Sciences , Jahrom , Iran.
Mahshid
M
Khoubyari
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood*; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult; D000098546:Interleukin-21
C508717:IL17A protein, human; D020381:Interleukin-17; D007378:Interleukins; C464565:MYDGF protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000098546:Interleukin-21
Diabetes type 1; Interferon gamma; Interleukin-17; Interleukin-21; Interleukin-27; transforming growth factor beta