LOW INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR LEVELS IN SERUM OF PATIENTS WITH INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES

Interleukin-2 receptors are released in the circulation in response to antigenic or mytogenic stimulation of T-lymphocytes. Abnormal serum i nterleukin-2 receptor levels have been found in young children with ty pe 1 diabetes and ''prediabetes.'' We measured interleukin-2 receptor levels in 17 patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes, 21 patient s with long-standing type 1 diabetes, 19 patients with long-standing t ype 2 diabetes, 19 islet-cell antibody positive nondiabetic polyendocr ine patients, 12 islet-cell antibody-positive first-degree relatives o f patients with type 1 diabetes and compared the results to age- and s ex-matched normal controls. We found significantly lower interleukin-2 receptor levels in patients with newly diagnosed and long-standing ty pe 1 diabetes compared to normal controls (87 +/- 11 and 93 +/- 11 vs. 142 +/- 25 and 132 +/- 40 U/ml, P < 0.001 and P < 0.01). There were n o significant differences in interleukin-2 receptor levels between pre diabetic groups and normal controls or patients with longstanding type 1 or type 2 diabetes. There was no correlation between glycosylated h emoglobin, blood glucose levels, and interleukin-2 receptor in the gro ups with long-standing type 1 or type 2 diabetes. We conclude that pat ients with type 1 diabetes have low interleukin-2 receptor serum level s. This phenomenon is acquired close to disease onset and is unlikely to be an early markers of type 1 diabetes.