posted on 2022-01-21, 15:51authored byBarbara Brooks-Worrell, Christiane S. Hampe, Erica G. Hattery, Brenda Palomino, Sahar Z. Zangeneh, Kristina Utzschneider, Steven E. Kahn, Mary E. Larkin, Mary L. Johnson, Kieren J. Mather, Naji Younes, Neda Rasouli, Cyrus Desouza, Robert M. Cohen, Jean Y. Park, Hermes J. Florez, Willy Marcos Valencia, GRADE Beta-cell Ancillary Study Network, Ali Shojaie, Jerry P. Palmer, Ashok Balasubramanyam, GRADE Research Group
Islet autoimmunity may contribute to β-cell dysfunction in type 2
diabetes (T2D). Its prevalence and clinical significance have not been
rigorously determined. In this ancillary study to the Glycemia Reduction
Approaches in Diabetes-A Comparative Effectiveness (GRADE) Study, we
investigated the prevalence of cellular and humoral islet autoimmunity
in patients with T2D duration 4·0±3·0 y, HbA1c 7·5±0·5% on metformin
alone. We measured T cell autoreactivity against islet proteins, islet
autoantibodies against GAD65, IA2, ZnT8, and β-cell function.
Cellular islet autoimmunity was present in 41·3%, humoral islet
autoimmunity in 13·5%, and both in 5·3%. β-cell function calculated as
iAUC-CG and ∆C-peptide(0– 30)/∆glucose(0–30) from an oral glucose
tolerance test was lower among T cell-positives (T+) than T
cell-negatives (T-) using two different adjustments for insulin
sensitivity (iAUC-CG: 13·2% [95% CI 0·3, 24·4%] or 11·4% [95% CI 0·4,
21·2%] lower; ∆C-peptide(0–30)/∆glucose(0–30)) 19% [95% CI 3·1, 32·3%]
or 17·7% [95% CI 2·6, 30·5%] lower). T+ patients had 17% higher HbA1c
(95% CI 0·07, 0·28) and 7·7 mg/dL higher fasting plasma glucose levels
(95% CI 0·2,15·3) than T- patients.
We conclude that islet autoimmunity is much more prevalent in T2D
patients than previously reported. T cell-mediated autoimmunity is
associated with diminished β-cell function and worse glycemic control.
Funding
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also provided funding support. The Department of Veterans Affairs provided resources and facilities. Additional support was provided by grant numbers P30 DK017047, P30 DK020541-44, P30 DK020572, P30 DK072476, P30 DK079626, P30 DK092926, U54 GM104940, UL1 TR000439, UL1 TR000445, UL1 TR001108, UL1 TR001409, UL1 TR001449, UL1 TR002243, UL1 TR002345, UL1 TR002378, UL1 TR002489, UL1 TR002489, UL1 TR002529, UL1 TR002535, UL1 TR002537, and UL1 TR002548.