c-peptide and Enterovirus-Infections

Fulminant type 1 diabetes is defined as a subtype of type 1 diabetes with a remarkably acute onset. A nationwide survey identified that this variant accounts for approximately 20% of acute-onset type 1 diabetic patients in Japan. Recent studies indicate that this is not a minor subtype in other East Asian countries. As genetic factors, we revealed association of HLA-DR-DQ, HLA-B and CTLA-4 to fulminant type 1 diabetes. As an environmental factor, viral infection would contribute to the development of this subtype. Cellular infiltration to islets was detected soon after the onset but not observed 1 month after the onset. Macrophages and T cells were the main components of the infiltrates. Enterovirus RNA and Toll-like receptor-3 expression, a signature of viral infection, was also observed. These findings suggest that viral infection in the susceptible individual might trigger anti-viral immune response and that pancreatic beta cells are rapidly destroyed through the accelerated immune reaction.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Aged; Asia, Eastern; Blood Glucose; C-Peptide; CTLA-4 Antigen; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; Diabetic Ketoacidosis; Enterovirus Infections; Female; Glycated Hemoglobin; HLA-B Antigens; HLA-DRB1 Chains; Humans; Insulin-Secreting Cells; Japan; Male; Middle Aged; Virus Diseases

To examine the effect of infection with Enterovirus (EV) in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) on the activities of serum antioxidant enzymes in diabetic and nondiabetic controls.. Three hundred and eighty-two diabetic and 100 nondiabetic children were tested for EV RNA using reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR. The activities of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) were also estimated in diabetic patients infected with EV (T1D-EV+), those not infected with EV (T1D-EV-), and in nondiabetic controls.. The frequency of EV was higher in diabetic children (100/382; 26.2%) than in healthy controls (0/100). Levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly higher but C-peptide was significantly lower in diabetic children than in controls. CRP levels were higher in the T1D-EV+ group than in the T1D-EV- group, and higher in all diabetic children than in nondiabetic controls. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes GPx, SOD, and CAT decreased significantly in diabetic children compared to in controls. Moreover, the activities of the enzymes tested were significantly reduced in the T1D-EV+ group compared to in the T1D-EV- group.. Our data indicate that EV infection correlated with a decrease in the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the T1D-EV+ group compared to in the T1D-EV- group; this may contribute to β cell damage and increased inflammation.

Topics: Adolescent; Blood Glucose; C-Peptide; C-Reactive Protein; Catalase; Child; Child, Preschool; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; Enterovirus Infections; Female; Glutathione Peroxidase; Glycated Hemoglobin; Humans; Male; Superoxide Dismutase