Hypoglycemia Increases Serum Interleukin-6 Levels in Healthy Men and Women (Hypoglycemia and IL-6)
- Sarah Dotson, BA1,
- Roy Freeman, MD2,
- Hannah J. Failing, BA1 and
- Gail K. Adler, MD, PhD (gadler{at}partners.org)1
- 1Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
- 2Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
Abstract
Objective: Inflammation may have a major role in the pathogenesis and prognosis of critical illness. Hyperglycemia increases levels of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) and is associated with increased risks of morbidity and mortality. Since hypoglycemia is also associated with adverse outcomes, we tested the hypothesis that hypoglycemia increases IL-6.
Research Design and Methods: Seventeen healthy men and women participated in hypoglycemic and euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp studies (target blood glucose 2.7 and 5.0 mmol/l, respectively), separated in time by 1-3 months. IL-6, ACTH, and cortisol were measured at baseline and 45, 75, 105 and 135 minutes after initiation of the insulin infusion.
Results: IL-6, ACTH, and cortisol increased significantly (p<0.0001) during hypoglycemia but not euglycemia. IL-6 increased from 1.0 ± 0.2 pg/ml at baseline to 2.6 ± 0.2 pg/ml after 135 minutes of hypoglycemia, whereas IL-6 levels were unchanged during euglycemia.
Conclusions: Hypoglycemia increases IL-6 levels in healthy individuals.
Footnotes
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- Received November 26, 2007.
- Accepted March 4, 2008.
- Copyright © American Diabetes Association
