Expression of CD73 and CD39 on Peripheral Blood Leukocytes in Type II Diabetes Patients

Abstract

Background: Type II diabetes mellitus (T2D) is one of the most common chronic metabolic diseases. It is associated with a state of chronic inflammation resulting in both microvascular and macrovascular complications. The adinosinergic axis plays an important anti-inflammatory protective role through conversion of ATP (produced as a result of inflammation) into adenosine (a potent anti-inflammatory mediator) through CD39 and CD73. Various peripheral blood leucocytes hold CD39 and CD73 with different degrees. Objective: To determine the expression of CD73 and CD39 on different peripheral blood leukocytes including Treg cells to uncover their inflammatory modulation role in T2D subjects in comparison to normal control ones. The level of their expression will be correlated with various anthropometric and biochemical parameters in diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: Venous blood was collected on EDTA anticoagulated tubes from 45 T2D patients; 15 with early T2D and 30 with complicated T2D with both microvascular and macrovascular complications. Twenty-five normal subjects, with no family history of T2D, were included. Immunophenotyping of the samples were performed on Navios Flow cytometer (Coulter Electronics, USA), using phycoerythrin (PE)-labelled CD39 antibodies, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled CD4 antibodies, peridinin-chlorophyll-protein complex: CY5.5 conjugate (PerCP-CY5.5)-labelled CD73 and allophycocyanin conjugate (APC)-labelled CD25. Results: CD39 expression was highest in early cases of T2D in comparison to least expression in complicated T2D on peripheral blood total lymphocytes, CD4+ lymphocytes and CD4+CD25+ lymphocytes. Conclusions: The increased expression of CD39 in early non-complicated cases of T2D indicates a state of low-level chronic inflammation owing to their role in production of adenosine; a potent anti-inflammatory mediator. This is reversed when CD39 expression in peripheral blood leucocytes is assessed in complicated T2D patients, which emphasise their role in protecting the patients from diabetic complications.