Relationship between serum pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine and growth factor concentrations with the age and gender adjusted prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes

The main goal of the present study is to compare the serum pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factor profile (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ, MCP-1, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-4, VEGF, and EGF) in individuals with diabetes or pre-diabetes and control subjects matched for age and gender. This study included 270 normal control subjects, 41 pre-diabetics, and 104 diabetic subjects. Demographic and anthropometric characteristics and serum biochemistry parameters, smoking status, and blood pressure were determined. Serum cytokine and growth factor measurements were performed using a multiplex biochip array based method. After removing the effects of confounders such as age, sex, smoking, BMI, serum triglyceride and cholesterol, hypertension, and treatment with anti-diabetic drugs, serum IL-4 ( p = 0.015), IL-1α ( p = 0.031), and VEGF ( p = 0.012) were significantly associated with the presence of diabetes mellitus. The presence of pre-diabetes was positively associated with serum IL-4 ( p < 0.001), and IL-1α ( p = 0.026). We have found a positive association between serum IL-1α, and IL-4, and a negative association of serum VEGF with the presence of diabetes, or pre-diabetes.