Endocrine Abstracts

To determine the relationship between indicators of inflammation and the blood redox status of type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients with and without coronary heart disease (CHD).

Forty four patients with T2DM and CHD (group 1), 67 patients with T2DM without cardiovascular complications (group 2), 89 healthy subjects (group 3) were included in this study. Serum concentrations of IL6 and IL8 were determined by ELISA using commercial kits. Concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) both in plasma and in atherogenic lipoprotein, total glutathione (GSHt) and oxidized glutathione, as well as the activity of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in erythrocytes, and that of catalase in plasma were determined by spectrophotometric methods. The glutathione redox potential (E_h) was calculated by the Nernst equation.

The increased in IL6 concentration was found in group 1 (87%, P=0.000) and group 2 (20%, P=0.007) compared to group 3, the IL8 concentration was increased only in group 1 (56%). Decreased activity of catalase and glutathione peroxidase was revealed in groups 1 and 2 compared to group 3. While the decrease in GSHt and GSH concentrations was found only in group of patients with T2DM and CHD (58 and 71%, respectively). This group of patients was characterized by the increased values of E_h (36.3 mV, P=0.000) compared to the healthy subjects.

Consequently, patients with T2DM and CHD are different from diabetic patients without cardiovascular complications to have increased pro-inflammatory cytokine IL6, decreased antioxidant capacity of the erythrocytes glutathione system and increased E_h values. High cytokine concentrations and changes in glutathione level as well as E_h can be considered as prognostic markers for assessing the risk of CHD progression in diabetic patients.