Evaluation of T-cell receptor CD3(+) gamma delta in gestational diabetes mellitus

Few studies have shown a significant increase of CD3(+) T-cell receptor (TC R) gamma delta in the early phases of type 1 diabetes. We wished to determi ne if CD3(+) TCR gamma delta is involved in the pathogenesis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We studied 29 GDM patients and 21 normal pregnant women. Lymphocyte subpopulations (CD3(+) TCR ap, CD3(+) TCR gamma delta), islet cell antibodies (ICA), glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GAD) a nd protein tyrosine phosphatase antibodies (IA(2)-Ab) were evaluated in all patients. The percentage of CD3(+) TCR gamma delta was significantly highe r in GDM women than in the control group (5.1 +/- 2.9% vs 3.7 +/- 1.7%; p < 0.05). No abnormalities of the other lymphocyte subpopulations were found. All subjects were negative for ICA; 2 GDM patients were positive for GAD, but no relationship was found between GAD positivity and CD3(+) gamma delta levels in these 2 patients. Further follow-up studies of these patients ar e required to verify if the CD3(+) TCR gamma delta receptor is a useful mar ker for diabetes development.