Leukocyte Profiles Differ Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes and Are Associated With Metabolic Phenotypes: Results From the German Diabetes Study (GDS)

• Published in: Diabetes care Vol. 37; no. 8; pp. 2326 - 2333
• Main Authors: Menart-Houtermans, Barbara, Rütter, Ruth, Nowotny, Bettina, Rosenbauer, Joachim, Koliaki, Chrysi, Kahl, Sabine, Simon, Marie-Christine, Szendroedi, Julia, Schloot, Nanette C., Roden, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Alexandria, VA American Diabetes Association 01.08.2014
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Body Mass Index; Correlation analysis; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - immunology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - immunology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - metabolism; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Female; Flow Cytometry; Genotype & phenotype; Germany; Glucose Clamp Technique; Humans; Immunophenotyping; Insulin Resistance; Leukocyte Count; Leukocytes; Lipids; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Metabolic syndrome; Middle Aged; Phenotype; Young Adult; Europe; Germany; Endocrinopathy; Type 2 diabetes; Human; Phenotype; Association; Nutrition; Leukocyte; Metabolic diseases; German; Metabolism; Endocrinology; Result
• ISSN: 0149-5992; 1935-5548; 1935-5548
• DOI: 10.2337/dc14-0316

Altered immune reactivity precedes and accompanies type 1 and type 2 diabetes. We hypothesized that the metabolic phenotype relates to the systemic cellular immune status. A total of 194 metabolically well-controlled patients with type 1 diabetes (n = 62, mean diabetes duration 1.29 years) or type 2 diabetes (n = 132, 1.98 years) and 60 normoglycemic persons underwent blood sampling for automated white blood cell counting (WBC) and flow cytometry. Whole-body insulin sensitivity was measured with hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp tests. Patients with type 2 diabetes had higher WBC counts than control subjects along with a higher percentage of T cells and activated T helper (Th) and cytotoxic T (Tc) cells but lower proportions of natural killer (NK) cells. In type 1 diabetes, the percentage of activated Th and Tc cells was also higher compared with control subjects, whereas the ratio of regulatory T (Treg) cells to activated Th cells was lower, suggesting diminished regulatory capacity. Parameters of glycemic control related positively to Treg cells only in type 2 diabetes. Upon age, sex, and body mass adjustments, insulin sensitivity correlated positively with monocytes, while circulating lipids correlated positively with T cell subsets in type 1 diabetes. Immune cell phenotypes showed distinct frequencies of occurrence in both diabetes types and associate with insulin sensitivity, glycemia, and lipidemia.