Circulating CD3+56+ Cell Subset in Pre-diabetes

The CD3 + 56 + cells are a small but significant population of T lymphocytes encompassing NKT-like and NKT cells, which may play the essential role at the very early stages of atherosclerotic plaque development. The frequency and activity of CD3 + 56 + cells in atherosclerosis-inducing dysglycaemic disease (diabetes type 2 or pre-diabetes) is largely unknown. We analysed CD3 + 56 + cell count, granzyme, perforin and annexin V profiles in the peripheral blood from a group of patients with pre-diabetes, with diabetes type 2 and from non-dysglycaemic controls. Measurements were made of fasting glucose levels, HbA 1 c, 1,5-anhydroglucitol and lipid profile. The mean counts of CD3 + 56 + cells were significantly higher in patients with pre-diabetes compared to both patients with diabetes and to control group. There was an increase in the number of CD3 + 56 + cells producing granzyme and perforin in pre-diabetic patients compared to other groups, while there were no difference in annexin V + populations within examined groups. It was confirmed that CD3 + 56 + cells count is modified by metabolic factors and their parameters, namely HbA 1 c and 1,5-anhydroglucitol values. It could be stated that the alterations of CD3 +  56 + cells count in peripheral blood of pre-diabetic and type 2 diabetic patients are related to different grades of carbohydrate deteriorations – postprandial hyperglycaemia and chronic hyperglycaemia.