| Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), arising through a
complex interaction of immune, genetic and environmental factors,
results from autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing ? cells.
Cytokines are critical to the function of both innate and adaptive immune
responses. Interleukin-12 p40 production influences T cell response, and
may therefore be important in T1DM pathogenesis. Objective: to study
the changes in IL12 levels in children with T1DM. Study design: fifty
T1DM children among those attending diabetes clinic at Zagazig
University hospitals, were included in the study. They were 27 males and
23 females (mean age, 9.19 ± 3.3 years). Thirty age and sex matched
healthy children were serving as a control group. All children were
subjected to full history taking, physical examination, complete blood
count (CBC), random blood sugar, glycated hemoglobin (HBA1C) and
serum IL-12 levels assessed by ELISA. Results: Diabetic children had
significantly higher white blood cell count, HBA1C, and IL12 levels than
healthy children. While there was no effect of gender on IL12 levels,
there were significant increase in IL12 levels in newly diagnosed cases,
those with higher body mass index and those who had the poorest
glycemic control. Conclusion: type 1 diabetes is associated with
elevation of IL-12 levels. This association is more evident in both newly
diagnosed and poorly controlled patients indicating a relevant role of IL-
12 in the pathogenesis of the disease. |