Cytokines IL-2 and IL-6 in children with type 1 diabetes melitus

Background. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by destruction of the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. Proinflammatory cytokines may be involved and play important role in the pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine serum concentrations of IL-2 and IL-6 in children with type 1 DM and healthy controls. Methods. Thirty-five children with type 1 DM, and 22 healthy controls were recruited for this study. Diabetic children were divided into: Group 1 - diagnosed within the last 18 months, Group 2 - with long standing DM. Concentration of IL-2 was measured using commercially available Human IL-2 Instant enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit (Bender MedSystems GmbH, Austria). Concentration of IL-6 was measured using commercially available Elecsys IL-6 assay kit (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Germany) with 7 pg/ml determined as a reference range. Results. Mean age and age ranges were: group 1 (11.4±4.3 years) (4.1-17.8 years), group 2 (9.7±3.7) (2.9-16.7), and control group (10.4±4.5) (1.9-17.5). Mean diabetes duration was 0.7±0.4 years in group 1, and 4.5±2.6 in group 2. In all groups detected levels of IL-6 were within reference range. Mean IL-2 levels were 2.2±3.7 pg/ml in group 1, 0.9±1.9 in group 2, and 1.2±2.6 in control group. The difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions. This study hasn’t determined the significantly different levels of IL-2 and IL-6 among children with type 1 DM and healthy controls. Since the results of other studies are different and there is no unique conclusion, further studies with larger study groups are warranted.