Abstract
The immunogenetic disorders of Type 1 diabetes were assessed by measuring the serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Type 1 diabetic patients had significantly higher levels of sIL-2R in their sera (381±47 U/m/) than normal subjects (220±29U/m/, p<0.005). However, Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients did not (260±58U/m/, p: NS). The mean level of sIL-2R on islet cell antibody (ICA)-positive Type 1 diabetic patients (501±73U/mi) was significantly higher than that in ICA-negative patients (256±43U/m/, p<0.01). These elvevated levels of sIL-2R in ICA-positive patients were observed in both newly diagnosed (within 3 months after onset) and long-term (>1yr) Type 1 diabetic patients (498±110U/m/ and 503±101U/m/, respectively). Neither the plasma glucose nor the glycosylated haemoglobin level was correlated with the level of sIL-2R. These results suggest a significant role of activation of IL-2R-positive cells in Type 1 diabetes.
