Emerging role of Interleukins IL-23/IL-17 axis and biochemical markers in the pathogenesis of Type 2 Diabetes: Association with age and gender in human subjects

Abstract

Chronic hyperglycaemia in type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Keeping the above fact into consideration we analyse the effect of age and gender on oxidative stress biomarkers and pro-inflammatory cytokines in T2D patients. The study included 148 diabetic and 110 healthy subjects, grouped on the basis of age and gender. Plasma malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl content and nitric oxide levels were elevated significantly in diabetic patients, with significant decrease in Ferric reducing ability of plasma, vitamin C, reduced glutathione, erythrocyte thiol groups and erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activity and these changes were even more pronounced as age progressed. Serum IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17A, IL-22 levels and TNF-α mRNA expression was significantly upregulated in all the age groups whereas IL-23 mRNA was upregulated only in the higher age group. Female diabetic patients experienced higher oxidative stress and greater serum IL-6 levels and TNF-α mRNA expression as compared to their male counterparts. This study suggested that diabetes onset is accompanied with increased oxidative stress and elevated levels of inflammatory mediators. The effect was more prominent in aged patients. Female patients experienced greater oxidative stress as compared to males of those age groups with slightly higher levels of inflammatory cytokines.