Children With Type 1 Diabetes, Role Of Pro-inflammatory Cytokines As Disease Biomarkers

Background: Cytokines are important mediators of the inflammatory response in type 1 diabetes (T1D). We have previously observed pro-inflammatory cytokine profiles in children with islet autoimmunity. In the present study we examined the role of cytokine profiles as immunological biomarkers of T1D in a case-control study of 162 children at T1D onset and 164 community controls matched for age, sex and time. The diagnosis of T1D was based on presence of islet autoantibodies and clinical criteria. Methods: We measured 50 cytokines, chemokines and growth factors using the Millipore Cytokine Magnetic Bead Multiplex Assay. Heat maps and multivariate analyses were used assess how cytokine expression profiles may identify cases of T1D. Results: The levels of 30 cytokines, chemokines and growth factors were significantly different (p 2-fold higher in T1D cases: Interleukin (IL)1β, IL6, IL10, IL13, IL15, IL23; Soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L), tumor necrosis factor (TN...