Endocrine Abstracts

Contemporary research data indicate that pancreatic beta cells are sensitive to ionizing radiation. Our recent studies showed a significant (2–3-fold) increase in the type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) incidence in adults exposed to ionizing radiation in a young age within 1986–1990 time period compared to the entire population of Ukraine. Currently there are no data on the time pattern of content of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 in the clean-up workers of Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident (ChNPPA), while both cytokines are critical for pathogenesis and clinical course of T2DM. The clean-up workers of ChNPPA (n=111) participated in emergency works in the ‘acute iodine period’ within first months upon accident were involved in the study. The 66 of them were T2DM patients. The 30 persons were admitted as a control group. Higher concentrations of circulating TNF-α and IL-6 were established in the clean-up workers having T2DM. There was a significant correlation found between the TNF-α serum concentration and increased body mass index (BMI). However, it was not reliable (r=0.224; P>0.05). A direct average correction with a high level of statistical significance (r=0.525; P<0.001) was found between the IL-6 concentration and BMI. A consistent pattern of the reduction of cytokine concentration along with perfect clinical and metabolic compensation of T2DM was revealed. There was no dependence of the level of proinflammatory cytokines on the duration of the T2DM. Thus, the increased concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 proinflammatory cytokines highlighting an activation of humoral component of immune response were found in the clean-up workers of an ‘acute iodine period’ of ChNPPA having now the T2DM. Concentration of proinflammatory cytokines is linked to the indices of glycemic control and body weight. The increased risk of T2DM and cardiovascular disease should be considered when managing patients e.g. having thyroid cancer, in which some medical radiological procedures are indicated, including the radionuclide diagnostics or treatment.