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Horm Metab Res 2013; 45(06): 467-470
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1331226
Short Communication
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Reduced Blood Leukocyte and Neutrophil Numbers in the Pathogenesis of Type 1 Diabetes

M. H. Harsunen
1   Institute of Diabetes Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, and Forschergruppe Diabetes, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
,
R. Puff
1   Institute of Diabetes Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, and Forschergruppe Diabetes, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
,
O. D’Orlando
1   Institute of Diabetes Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, and Forschergruppe Diabetes, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
,
E. Giannopoulou
1   Institute of Diabetes Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, and Forschergruppe Diabetes, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
2   Forschergruppe Diabetes e.V., Neuherberg, Germany
,
L. Lachmann
1   Institute of Diabetes Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, and Forschergruppe Diabetes, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
2   Forschergruppe Diabetes e.V., Neuherberg, Germany
,
A. Beyerlein
1   Institute of Diabetes Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, and Forschergruppe Diabetes, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
,
A. von Meyer
3   Department of Clinical Chemistry, Städtisches Klinikum Schwabing, Munich, Germany
,
A.-G. Ziegler
1   Institute of Diabetes Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, and Forschergruppe Diabetes, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
2   Forschergruppe Diabetes e.V., Neuherberg, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 17 September 2012

accepted 14 November 2012

Publication Date:
15 January 2013 (online)

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Abstract

Very little is known about the role of the innate immune system in the course of human type 1 diabetes. Here we investigated neutrophil numbers along with other leukocyte populations in patients at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and during prediabetes. Complete and differential blood counts were analyzed from 107 adult patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes, 21 children with persistent islet autoantibodies and a family history of type 1 diabetes, and 1 238 age and gender matched control subjects, all individuals without any signs of acute infection.

Adult patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes had significantly lower total WBC (p<1×10 − 6), neutrophil (p<1×10 − 6), basophil (p<1×10 − 6), monocyte (p=4×10 − 6) and lymphocyte (p<1×10 − 6) counts compared to control subjects. Erythrocyte, eosinophil and platelet counts did not differ between groups. Similarly, children with persistent islet autoantibodies had decreased WBC (p=0.001), neutrophils (p=0.003), and lymphocytes (p=0.006) in comparison to control children. Our findings demonstrate a perturbation of leukocyte homeostasis at and prior to onset of type 1 diabetes suggesting a general involvement of the innate immune system in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes.

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