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Correlation analysis between cytokines' profile, autoimmune antibodies and the duration of type 1 diabetes: A case
Mohammed Al-Dubayee1,2,3, Amir Babiker1,2,3, Abdulaziz Alkewaibeen1,2
1College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Cytokine levels are significantly elevated in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and correlate with disease duration and autoantibodies. These findings suggest specific cytokines may be targets for future T1D therapies.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of pancreatic beta cells.
- Cytokines play a crucial role in immune regulation and inflammation, and their involvement in T1D pathogenesis is increasingly recognized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of various cytokines in Saudi children with T1D.
- To explore the correlation between cytokine levels, disease duration, and autoimmune antibody markers in T1D patients.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 274 children with T1D and healthy controls in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Measurement of plasma cytokine levels (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, IL-18, IL-21, IL-35, and IL-37) using ELISA.
- Assessment of anti-islet, anti-GAD antibodies, and C-peptide levels.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher median levels of most measured cytokines were observed in T1D patients compared to healthy controls (p < .001).
- Several cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, IL-21) showed significant correlations with T1D autoantibodies.
- HbA1C levels correlated with IL-18, IL-35, and IL-37. Anti-GAD antibodies increased significantly with T1D duration exceeding 3 years.
Conclusions:
- Elevated cytokine levels are characteristic of T1D in Saudi children and are linked to disease duration and autoantibody profiles.
- Specific cytokines demonstrate correlations with disease progression markers, suggesting their potential as therapeutic targets.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to investigate the role of cytokines in children with T1D living in Saudi Arabia and their correlation with disease duration and autoimmune antibody markers.
Methods:
A case-control study was conducted in the endocrine clinic of King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital in Riyadh. A total of 274 T1D and healthy control children were enrolled in the study. 5 mL of venous blood samples were collected in the morning after 9 to 12 h of fasting in BD Vacutainer® EDTA tubes and centrifuged at 250g for 15 min at. Plasma was then stored at -20°C for detection of anti-islet, anti-GAD antibodies (Abs), and C-peptide using commercial ELISA kits from Thermo Fisher Scientific. The levels of cytokines were measured using commercial sandwich ELISA kits from Abcam.
Results:
Median differences in cytokine levels (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, IL-18, IL-21, IL-35, and IL-37) were significantly higher in T1D patients compared with healthy controls (p-value < .001). Spearman's Rho correlation indicated that TNFα, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, and IL-21 correlated significantly with T1D Abs (p-value = .01). HbA1C correlated negatively with IL-35 and IL-37, and positively with IL-18 (p-value = .01). Linear regression analysis showed a significant increase in anti-glutamic acid antibodies (GAD) in patients with >3 years of T1D duration.
Conclusion:
Autoantibodies remained positive at high levels in our patients over a 3-year duration of the disease and correlated with specific cytokines. The clear correlations with disease duration and profile of specific cytokines could be targets for future therapeutic interventions.
