Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a multifactorial and complex chronic disease characterized by insulin resistance and a dysfunctional adipose tissue. T2DM patients usually present a state of low-grade inflammation due to a dysregulation of the cytokine production. Consequently, this seems to contribute to insulin resistance and beta cell failure associated with the progression of this disease.

Objective: To examine expression of Interleukine-10 (IL-10) in CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in patients with T2DM compared to healthy individuals and its correlations with anthropometric parameters and Mediterranean diet.

Materials and methods: Blood samples were drawn from patients with T2DM (n = 36) and healthy controls (n = 12) from University Hospital La Princesa. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) samples were obtained and incubated with monoclonal antibodies (anti-CD4, anti CD8, anti-IL10). Data were acquired in FACSCanto flow cytometer. Adherence to Mediterranean diet and electrical bioimpedance were performed. Continuous variables were examined with Spearman’s rho analysis, whereas categorical variables were analysed using Student’s t-test/Wilcoxon test o one-way ANOVA/Kruskal-Wallis. Statistical analysis was conducted with R version 4.0.3.

Results: From our cohort, 47.22% and 50% were women in patients and controls, respectively. Mean age was 34.58±10.39 years in controls and 61.52±8.66 years in patients. IL-10 levels were increased in patients compared to controls in both CD4+ and CD8+ populations. CD4+IL10+, normalized by absolute lymphocyte count, were three times higher (P = 0.004) in patients than in controls (0.499± 0.404 and 0.158±0.187, respectively). Regarding CD8+, results showed even more differences, revealing almost four times higher levels of CD8+IL-10+ (P = 0.002) in T2DM than in healthy controls (1.304±1.102 and 0.336±0.436, respectively). Within the patient cohort, significant differences were also found regarding sex, specifically in CD4+IL-10+ (P = 0.032), with women showing almost double the expression compared to men (mean 0.602 vs 0.377). Interestingly, a significant inverse correlation was observed between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and both CD4+IL-10+ (r =-0.447, P = 0.010) and CD8+IL-10+ (r =-0.536, P = 0.002). Regarding body composition, a significant inverse correlation was shown between fat free mass and CD4+IL-10+ (r =-0.434, P = 0.013) and CD8+IL-10+ (r =-0.347, P = 0.052), as well as a significant direct correlation between fat mass and CD4+IL-10+ (r =0.434, P = 0.013) and CD8+IL-10+ (r =0.347, P = 0.050).

Conclusions: IL-10 expression was increased in CD4+ and CD8+ populations in T2DM, and significant correlations were found between Mediterranean diet and body composition.