Circulating inflammatory proteins are elevated in type 1 and type 2 diabetes and associated to complications
Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 2024
van Heck J., Ajie M., Joosten L., Tack C., Stienstra R.
| Disease area | Application area | Sample type | Products |
|---|---|---|---|
Metabolic Diseases | Pathophysiology Patient Stratification | Plasma | O Olink Target 96 |
Abstract
Background
The presence of low‐grade inflammation has been reported in people with type 2 diabetes and related to the development of (macro)vascular complications. Whether systemic inflammation is present in type 1 diabetes and linked to long‐term complications remains unknown. We used a targeted proteomics approach to compare inflammation in people with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes with control subjects and linked these proteins to diabetes related characteristics and complications.
Methods
We included 233 participants with type 1 diabetes, 387 participants with type 2 diabetes and 150 healthy controls. Plasma was collected and used to determine high sensitive C‐reactive proteins (hs‐CRP) and an additional 92 inflammatory proteins using the Olink proteomics platform.
Results
Compared to healthy controls, 41 circulating inflammatory proteins were higher in type 1 diabetes (FDR < 0.05) and 64 inflammatory proteins in type 2 diabetes (FDR < 0.05) (including CXCL5, IL‐15RA, MCP‐4 and AXIN1 for both groups). HbA1c levels were positively associated with 21 inflammatory proteins (including CDCP1, FGF‐21, HGF and IL‐18R1) in type 1 diabetes (FDR < 0.05), whereas a positive association existed between body mass index (BMI) and 26 inflammatory proteins (including IL6, IL17C, FGF‐23 and CSF‐1) in type 2 diabetes. Inflammatory proteins associated with the presences, of complications, particularly nephropathy, were similar in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. FlT3L and EN‐RAGE were associated with the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in type 2 diabetes.
Conclusions
Both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are associated with increased circulating inflammatory protein concentrations, but the increase is more pronounced in type 2 diabetes. These results suggest both differences in drivers of inflammation between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes as well as potential similarities in pathways involved in the development of diabetes‐associated complications.