β-Cell Secretory Function and CD25 + Lymphocyte Subsets In the Early Stage of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Cellular immunologic tests have not been used for diagnostic purposes in individuals at risk for autoimmune insulitis or in patients with partial β-cell destruction because of a lack of studies that show their predictive value. In this study we initially evaluated 43 patients with recent-onset Type 1 diabetes (disease duration ≤ 6 months, 29 ICA positive) with regard to β-cell secretion stimulation test with glucagon and immunologic parameters, including CD4 +, CD8 +, CD4 + CD25 +, CD8 + CD25 + lymphocyte subsets. At baseline, C-peptide concentration 6 min after stimulation increased on average by 0.18 ± 0.27 µg/ml. The percentage of CD4 + cells was 42 ± 9,4 % (healthy controls 44 ± 7.3 %, p nonsig.) and percentage of CD8 + was 33 ± 8.6 % (healthy control 31 ± 8.3 %, p nonsig.). Relative size of CD4 + CD25 + subpopulation was 7 ± 5.4 % (healthy control 2 ± 2 %, p < 0.001). Percentage of activated CD8 + cell subset was also increased (2 ± 1.4 vs. 1.0 ± 1.0 %), but not significantly. Functional β-cell testing was repeated after 6 months and nineteen patients were eligible for analysis. Their response was weaker after 6 months (0.13 ± 0.1 µg/ml, p < 0.05 vs. baseline). The average change in C-peptide excursion from baseline to the endpoint was - 0.07 ± 0.17 µg/ml. There was no significant correlation between β-cell functional parameters at baseline (C-peptide6min_baseline) and the relative size of various T cell subpopulations. Results were identical for the 6-month β-cell functional data (C-peptide6min_6month). The change in the excursion of C-peptide between baseline and follow-up visit (C-peptide6min_{6month-baseline}) showed mild, negative correlation with relative size of the CD8 + CD25 + subpopulation (r = - 0.511, p = 0.025), which may indicate that the size of this cell subpopulation has predictive value in assessing future functional β-cell changes.

Type 1 diabetes - C-peptide - CD25 positive lymphocytes - CD4 positive lymphocytes - CD8 positive lymphocytes

References

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