BACKGROUND. Interleukin 12 (IL-12) is the evidently proatherogenic cytokine acting throughout several different mechanisms. High serum IL-12 levels were found before in patients with coronary artery disease, while little is known about this cytokine in type 2 diabetic patients. We aimed to evaluate IL-12 serum concentration in patients with diabetes type 2 together with factors related to the pathogenesis of this disease.
MATERIAL AND METHODS. We studied 31 patients with diabetes type 2 treated with gliclazide and 19 healthy individuals. Fasting glycaemia, glycated hemoglobin (HbA_1c), 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol (1,5-AG) plasma level, lipid profile, C-peptide, insulin and IL-12 concentrations in serum were estimated. Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMAIR index) was calculated as well. RESULTS. There was an increase in IL-12 serum level in patients with diabetes type 2 in comparison to healthy group. Serum IL-12 level was positively correlated with body mass index (BMI), C-peptide, insulin and HOMAIR. It was also found the negative correlation between IL-12 serum level and high density lipoprotein (HDL). The multivariate regression analysis revealed that IL-12 concentration in serum is independently determined by BMI.
CONCLUSIONS. These data revealed higher levels of the IL-12 in serum of diabetic patients than in healthy individuals. These high, potentially proatherogenic, serum IL-12 levels are influenced simultaneously by several factors including b-cells dysfunction, peripheral insulin resistance, low HDL levels and obesity. Nevertheless, it seems to be likely that the most evident decrease in IL-12 serum levels in diabetic patients could be achieved by body mass reduction.