correlation between transforming growth factor-β1 (tgf- β1) with premature atherosclerosis in type 1 diabetes

Background: type 1 diabetes (t1d) carries a significant risk of atherosclerosis as the main driver for cardiovascular events. atherosclerosis is initiated by the activation of the endothelium by various risk factors through the inflammation process. the anti-inflammatory cytokine tgf-β1 may inhibit the development of atherosclerosis.methods: in a cross-sectional study, a total of 40 patients aged 14.5±3.16 years old with t1d and 40 healthy controls aged 14.7±0.99 years old were involved. common carotid artery imt (cimt) was measured by real-time m-echocardiography mode (affinity 50g philips) and flow mediated dilatation (fmd), using high-resolution ultrasonography and doppler flow characteristics. the tgf-β1 level was measured by indirect elisa at saiful anwar hospital laboratory.results: there were no differences in age, gender, body mass index (bmi), duration of diabetes, renal function, or nutritional status between the t1d and healthy groups (p>0.05). a significant difference in cimt was observed between the t1d group and the healthy group (0.567 ± 0.87 mm vs. 0.387 ± 0.57 mm, p = 0.000), fmd (7.17 ± 3.98 mm vs. 11.22 ± 5.48 mm, p = 0.000), and the level of tgf-β1 cytokine (39.83±13.51 vs. 73.67±15.34 pg/ml, p = 0.000). a significantly negative correlation between tgf-β1 and cimt (p = 0.000; r = -0.685) and a significantly positive correlation between tgf-β1 and fmd (p = 0.000; r = +0.55) were found.conclusion: atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease accelerated by diabetes. the inflammation process is more prominent in t1d patients. t1d patients show a decreased level of tgf-β1, increased measurement of cimt (>0.5 mm), and a decreased measurement of fmd.