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Abstract

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Type 1 diabetes is characterized by a complete or near-complete insulin deficiency caused by an immune-mediated selective destruction of the insulin-producing β-cells in the Islets of Langerhans. Inflammatory mechanisms play a key role in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes. Many findings suggest that the Islet autoantibody status in type 1 diabetes is linked to disease activity. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the hypothesis that the systemic immunoregulatory balance, as defined by levels of circulating cytokines, is associated with Islet autoantibody status. METHODS: Cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-5,IL-10, TNF-β and INF-γ) and Islet autoantibodies (ICA, GADA, IA-2) were measured in 56 patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and 20 healthy control patients. RESULTS: The three proinflammatory cytokines measured [interleukin-2 (IL-2) , interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-β (TNF-β)], both TNF-β (50.0 ±5.9) (63.4± 5.4) and INF-γ (13.8 ± 10.9) (13.7 ± 5.5) showed a significant increase (P

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