IL-4 AND INTERFERON GAMMA IN RECENTLY DIAGNOSED TYPE I DIABETES, A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Introduction: the aim of this study was to measure serum levels of interferon-gamma (ifn-γ) and interleukin-4 (il-4), the two major cytokines secreted by th-1 and th-2 cells, in islet cell autoantibody (ica)-positive, newly-diagnosed type i diabetic patients.methods: the study was conducted on 30 newly diagnosed, ica-positive type i diabetics and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. cytokine levels in serum were quantified by indirect sandwich elisa in pg/ml.results: we observed no significant difference in concentration of il-4 in ica-positive diabetics (median=126.535) compared with healthy controls (median=136.440) (p>0.05). ifn-γ levels were significantly higher in patients (median=11.305) compared with healthy controls (median=8.200) (p<0.05).conclusions: increased levels of ifn-γ in patients may be suggestive of its destructive role in the pathophysiology of type i autoimmune diabetes.