Type 1 Diabetes Is Associated With Increased Cyclooxygenase- and Cytokine-Mediated Inflammation

  1. Samar Basu, MSC, PHD1,
  2. Anders Larsson, MD, PHD2,
  3. Johan Vessby, MD1,
  4. Bengt Vessby, MD, PHD1 and
  5. Christian Berne, MD, PHD3
  1. 1Section of Geriatrics and Clinical Nutrition Research, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
  2. 2Section of Clinical Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
  3. 3Section of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
  1. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Samar Basu, PhD, Section of Geriatrics and Clinical Nutrition Research, Faculty of Medicine, Uppsala University, P.O. Box 609, SE-751 25 Uppsala, Sweden. E-mail: samar.basu{at}pubcare.uu.se

Abstract

OBJECTIVE—The extent of involvement of cyclooxygenase (COX)-mediated inflammation in type 1 diabetes is unknown, and the association between the COX- and cytokine-mediated inflammatory responses in type 1 diabetes is not fully understood.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), 24-h urinary and plasma 15-keto-dihydro-prostaglandin F2α (a metabolite of prostaglandin F2α [PGF2α] and an indicator of COX-mediated inflammation), serum amyloid protein A (SAA), and interleukin (IL)-6 (indicators of inflammation) were measured in 38 subjects with type 1 diabetes and 41 healthy age- and sex-matched control subjects.

RESULTS—The inflammatory indicators (urinary 15-keto-dihydro-PGF2α, P < 0.01; IL-6, P < 0.04) were increased in men with diabetes. CRP and SAA did not show any significant difference between the diabetic and the control subjects. Urinary levels of 15-keto-dihydro-PGF2α correlated with the degree of glycemic control, HbA1c (r = 0.42, P < 0.0005). No correlation was found between the duration of diabetes and the inflammatory biomarkers or metabolic measurements.

CONCLUSIONS—These results suggest that an early low-grade inflammatory process reflected by elevated levels of PGF2α and IL-6 is involved in type 1 diabetes. Thus, both COX- and cytokine-mediated inflammatory pathways are significantly related to type 1 diabetes.

Footnotes

  • A table elsewhere in this issue shows conventional and Système International (SI) units and conversion factors for many substances.

    • Accepted March 3, 2005.
    • Received October 28, 2004.
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  1. doi: 10.2337/diacare.28.6.1371 Diabetes Care June 2005 vol. 28 no. 6 1371-1375
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