1. INTRODUCTION:
As a complex disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has rapidly grown into a major public health concern worldwide, especially in underdeveloped regions.[
1,
2,
3,
4] Rapid economic strides, increasing physical inactivity, eating calorie-dense foods, and changing lifestyles have played a role in the high incidence of obesity and consequent diabetes. [
5] International Diabetes Federation reports that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among adults worldwide was predicted to be 536.6 million individuals, accounting for 10.5% of the global population in 2021. Furthermore, the IDF projects that the number of individuals with diabetes will increase to 783.2 million, representing 12.2% of the global population, by the year 2045.[
6] Recently, there has been a notable increase in the prevalence of diabetes in China, the largest developing nation with a population accounting for almost one-fifth of the global population.[
7] Saudi Arabia with a total population of 24,194,300, has a prevalence of 17.7% for diabetes with about 4274100 adult diabetic patients (
https://idf.org/our-network/regions-members/middle-east-and-north-africa/members/46-saudi-arabia.html, accessed on Oct.12, 2023). One of the top 10 global killers, diabetes increases a person's risk of dying from any cause by two to three times.[
1,
2] T2DM accounts for approximately 95% of all diabetics. The hallmark symptom is chronic hyperglycemia, which can be attributed to either insufficient insulin production or impaired insulin function.[
8]
Based on ethnicity and geographic location, it has been demonstrated that the frequency and occurrence of T2DM vary widely around the world, with the highest risks being experienced by Japanese, Hispanics, and Native Americans.[
9,
10,
11] The incidence rates of T2DM among Asians have been observed to be higher compared to white American and UK populations. Notably, the black population represents the highest risk category in both populations.[
1] Although the exact etiology remains unknown, several variables have been postulated as potential contributors.[
14,
15] These include modern lifestyle factors that promote obesity, socioeconomic influences, inherent genetic predispositions, and interactions between genes and the environment. The probability of developing T2DM is substantially impacted by genetic susceptibility. The intricate polygenic characteristics of T2DM have been elucidated via various genome-wide association studies conducted in the last decade. [
14,
15] The vast majority of these genetic loci boost the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus by mainly impacting the synthesis of insulin.
Acute complications of type 2 diabetes include diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome, whereas long-term complications include renal failure, blindness, and cardiovascular disease, and diabetic neuropathy. [
16] Type 2 diabetes mellitus is distinguished by insulin resistance and reduced insulin production, both of which contribute to the disease's pathogenesis and render glycemic management nearly difficult.[
14,
15] According to estimates, 90% of people with diabetes are either overweight or obese, and obesity has become one of the major risk factors for T2DM. [
17,
18]
Inflammation, adipokine dysregulation, changes in gut microbiota, and immunological dysregulation have emerged as significant pathophysiological contributors to T2DM according to recent observations. [
3,
14] Multiple reports have implicated pro and anti-inflammatory interleukins (IL) including the IL-10 family members in the pathophysiology of T2DM. [
14,
17,
18] IL-10 family comprises of IL10, IL19, IL20, and IL22 among others. [
19] The genomic organization, intron-exon organization, and a shared structural fold made of stacked alpha-helices are common motifs in these cytokines.[
19] These interleukins are not limited to different populations of T cells but also are synthesized in adipose tissue.[
3,
14,
18] IL-10, a potent anti-inflammatory cytokine, regulates the production of other inflammatory cytokines like IL-19 and IL-22. Reduced levels of IL-10 in the blood have been observed in patients with metabolic syndrome, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.[
20,
23] The anti-inflammatory actions of IL-10 are thought to be mediated through heterodimeric IL-10 receptors (IL-10R1, IL-10R2).[
20]
The cytokine interleukin-19 (IL-19) is a relatively new discovery within the larger interleukin-10 family. IL-19 is released by activated B cells and, to a lesser extent, monocytes.[
19,
24] This protein can induce IL-10 production in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.[
20,
25,
26] The response of T-helper2 (Th2) has been implicated in a number of diseases including type 1 diabetes.[
27], and cardiovascular disease[
28,
29]
, and has been reported to be influenced by IL-19. In addition to playing crucial roles in various inflammatory processes, IL-19 has the ability to stimulate the angiogenic potential of endothelial cells. [
28,
29,
30,
31] The dimerization of two subunits of the IL-20 receptor is involved in the signaling pathway of IL-19.[
2] Numerous ongoing studies are trying to figure out the precise mechanism by which IL-19 contributes to the etiopathogenesis of T2DM.[
24,
30,
31,
32]
Activated CD4+ T helper subsets such as Th1 and Th22 cells, as well as innate lymphoid cells, express IL-22, a tiny molecule that is a member of the IL-10 family of cytokines.[
25,
33] Although IL-22 and IL-10 share 22% homology, these two molecules play different roles in inflammation. IL-22 appears to play functions in inflammation that are in conflict with those of IL-10.[
34,
35,
36] The role played by IL-22 in the molecular etiopathogenesis of T2DM and as an immunomodulatory agent in the treatment of Chronic immunological disorders including T2DM has been a matter of discussion and different groups have come up with varying reports.[
35,
36,
37]
In this study, we assessed the relationship between selected members of the interleukin-10 family, such as IL-10, IL-19, and IL-22, and the etiopathogenesis of T2DM with varying degrees of obesity as measured by BMI and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) in the Asir region of Saudi Arabia.
Using body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio as measures of obesity, we assessed the relationship between selected interleukin-10 family members and the etiopathogenesis of type 2 diabetes in the Asir region of Saudi Arabia.
3.5. Informed Consent Statement:
Informed consent was obtained prior to the collection of samples from all patients and control subjects.
3.6. Inclusion criteria:
Only Saudi citizens living Asir region (Bisha and Abha cities and surrounding areas) were enrolled in this study. This study included 200 confirmed T2DM patients, 110 men and 90 women, who were using oral hypoglycemic drugs and/or insulin.
3.7. Requisites for Exclusion from patient group:
Patients with T2DM who suffered from major chronic illnesses or cancer, were disqualified from the patient group. Patients with other types of diabetes were also not included in the study.
3.8. Requisites for control subjects:
A total of 100 control subjects were healthy persons with normal fasting and random sugar indices with no history of diabetes or other significant clinical problems.
3.9. Requisites for Exclusion from Controls:
A total of eighty-five healthy persons (44 men and 41 women) remained in the study after those control subjects with abnormal laboratory indices were eliminated. The other criterion for selecting this limited number of control subjects was the availability of ELISA kits as each 96-well kit was sufficient for less than 88 samples after including the calibrators and QC samples.
3.10. Data collection:
Finally, 170 Saudi citizens with confirmed T2DM (96 males and 74 females) who visited KAH and AGH for regular follow-up and met the inclusion criteria were made a part of the study. WHO guidelines were followed in the diagnosis of T2DM. The case histories, ages, sexes, BMIs, blood glucose (both fasting and random), glycated hemoglobin, triacylglycerol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels of both T2DM patients and controls were all analyzed. Standardized procedures were used to evaluate anthropometric and biochemical parameters.
3.10.1. T2DM patient blood specimen collection:
A 4 mL venous blood sample was extracted from each T2DM patient into a sample collection tube without the use of any anticoagulants. An initial serum sample was kept at -20°C until the interleukin estimate. A second serum aliquot was immediately used for the analysis of biochemical parameters.
3.10.2. Blood samples from healthy controls:
All age-matched, healthy control subjects' sample collection was timed to coincide with routine blood draws for the standard health checkup. There was no longer a requirement for extra phlebotomy. In a red top tube with no anticoagulant, a sample of peripheral blood with a volume of around 4 ml was obtained for each control. An initial serum sample was stored at -20°C until the interleukin estimation. The other serum aliquot was employed right away for biochemical analysis.
3.10.3. Analysis of Biochemical parameters:
All the blood chemistry investigations were performed on a random access, multi-channel analyzer (Roche Diagnostics) in the medical laboratory department KAH, Bisha. The commercially available test kits including the calibrators and internal quality control samples from the manufacturer were used for these analyses.
3.10.4. Estimation of Interleukins:
Using commercially available kits from Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA, ELISA assays were used to measure the serum concentrations of the three IL-10 family members, IL-10, IL-19, and IL-22. Less than 10% of variances occurred both within and between tests. Variations within and across assays were under 10%.
3.10.5. Interleukin-10:
A commercially available kit for IL-10 Human ELISA Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA, Cat No. BMS215HS) with a sensitivity of 0.05 picograms per milliliter (pg/mL) was used to measure the blood concentrations of IL-10. The assay was performed as per the instructions of the manufacturer and the results were presented as pg/mL.
3.10.6. Interleukin-19:
A commercially available IL-19 Human ELISA Kit (Abcam UK. ab231922) with a sensitivity of 0.65 pg/mL was purchased to quantify the serum level of IL-19. The test was carried out according to the guidelines of the supplier, and the data were presented as pg/mL.
3.10.7. Interleukin-22:
The serum level of IL-22 was quantified by using a commercially available IL-22 Human ELISA Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA, Cat No. BMS2047) that had a sensitivity of 5 pg/mL. The assay was performed as per the instructions of the manufacturer and the results were reported as pg/mL.
3.10.8. Statistical assessment:
The statistical assessment was carried out utilizing SPSS, version 20. In contrast to data exhibiting a skewed distribution, which was represented by medians (Q1–Q3), data displaying a normally distributed distribution were presented using means accompanied by standard deviations (SD). One-way analysis of variance with the Tukey HSD test was used to figure out the significance of differences for variables with a normal distribution and homogeneous variances; in all other circumstances, Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance by ranks and the multiple comparison post hoc test were used. Values that were considered significant in this study were those that had a p-value lower than 0.05 (p<0.05).
4. RESULTS:
4.1. Baseline features of the male patient group:
The anthropometric and biochemical indices for male diabetics are shown in
Table 1. Based on their BMI scores, the 96 patients were separated into 4 groups. Group A comprised 25 T2DM patients with a BMI of 21.80 ± 2.14 kg/m
2); Group B contained 23 patients who were overweight with a BMI of 27.44 ± 2.29 kg/m
2; Group C had 24 obese patients with a BMI of 34.94 ± 3.18 kg/m
2; and group D comprised of 24 severely obese T2DM patients with a BMI of 47.22 ± 5.70 kg/m
2. The 44 males in the control group had a BMI of 21.74 ± 1.78 (mean ± SD) kg/m
2 as is depicted in
Table 1. Male T2DM patients' ages ranged from 28 to 67, while controls' ages ranged from 28 to 62. The patients belonging to groups C and D exhibited statistically significant changes in WHR in comparison to the control group. However, no noticeable disparity in WHR was seen between groups A and B and the control group.
On a comparative analysis, the patients in group D showed a very significant rise in WHR (p<0.001) in comparison with groups A and B whereas those in group C showed a substantial increase (p<0.01) in WHR in comparison to groups A and B. There was no statistically significant increase in BMI observed among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in groups A and B, as compared to the control group. In contrast, groups C and D exhibited a notable and meaningful elevation in BMI.
Patients in Group C with type 2 diabetes mellitus exhibited a body mass index that was notably greater when compared to individuals in Groups A and B, as indicated by a p-value of 0.001. Similarly, patients in Group D had a BMI that was significantly higher than that of Groups A and B, with a p-value of 0.001, and also higher than that of Group C, with a p-value of 0.01. The fasting glucose levels of T2DM patients in groups A, B, and C were not substantially different from controls, whereas group D patients had significantly higher values (p <0.001). Although there were no discernible changes in HbA1c among the different patient groups A, B, and D, all four groups of T2DM patients had significantly higher levels than the control group, with a p-value of 0.001. Patients with T2DM in group C displayed significantly higher HbA1c levels in comparison to groups A, B, and D (p<0.001). T2DM patient groups A to C depicted significant differences in total cholesterol compared to the control group (p<0.01) but group D showed a very significantly increased cholesterol-T level in comparison to the controls(p<0.001). Group A-C did not show any meaningful variations in the cholesterol-T levels mutually. HDL-cholesterol levels were unremarkable in all the T2DM patients compared to the normal controls, although there was an apparent but insignificant decrease in HDL values in the patient groups. LDL cholesterol was similar in control subjects and T2DM patients in group A but was substantially increased in T2DM patients in groups B and C in comparison with controls (p<0.001. Patients in Group D had significantly elevated levels of LDL compared to both group A T2DM patients and controls (p< 0.001). The triglyceride levels in T2DM patients of groups A-C were substantially higher in comparison to the controls (p<0.01). When compared to controls, the TG levels in Group D patients were significantly higher (p <0.001) than in the control group as a whole. In comparison to T2DM patients in groups A through C, group D likewise exhibited significantly higher TG levels with a p-value of <0.01. In comparison to the control group, the patients in group D had significantly elevated TG levels (p <0.001). Group D demonstrated significantly raised TG levels compared to groups A through C, with a p-value of less than 0.01.
4.2. Baseline features of the female patient group:
Table 2 summarizes the anthropometric and biochemical indices for 74 female T2DM patients.
Table 2 shows that the age range in the controls was from 27-64 years, while the same was 27-69 years in the 74 female T2DM. When compared to control subjects, WHR was considerably greater in groups C and group D. In comparison to the control group, groups A B, and C patients, group D patients exhibited a statistically significant elevation in waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (p<0.001). Conversely, group C patients had a substantial increase in WHR (p<0.01) when compared to the control group, groups A and B, and group C.
The female controls had a BMI of 21.20 ± 1.66 kg/m2 which was considered normal. Based on their BMI values, the female T2DM group was further divided into four sub-groups. Group A consisted of 18 individuals who had a normal body weight, as shown by their body mass index (BMI) of 21.41 ± 2.14 kg/m2. Group B comprised 19 individuals who were classified as overweight, with a BMI of 28.22 ± 2.26 kg/m2. Group C consisted of 20 individuals who were classified as obese, with a BMI of 33.88 ± 3.20 kg/m2. Lastly, group D included 17 individuals who were extremely obese, with a BMI of 46.48 ± 5.20 kg/m2. In comparison to the control group, there was no significant rise in BMI observed in groups A and B. However, a substantial increase in BMI was observed in groups C and D (p<0.001). Group D patients exhibited a substantial increase in BMI compared to groups A and B (p <0.001), as well as a significantly higher BMI compared to group C (p<0.01). Additionally, group C patients demonstrated a significantly higher BMI when compared to groups A and B, with a p-value of <0.01.
With a p-value of less than 0.01, the fasting glucose levels of groups A through C were statistically higher than those of the control group. On the other hand, the fasting glucose levels of Group D rose even more than those of the control group, with a p-value of less than 0.001. All four groups of female patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus had statistically significant increases in their HbA1c levels compared to the control group (p 0.001). However, there were no big changes between the HbA1c levels of the different groups of patients (A-D).
Groups A and B had notably elevated levels of total cholesterol in comparison to the control subjects, with a p-value less than 0.01. The patients in the C and D groups had significantly elevated levels of total cholesterol in comparison to the control group, with a p-value of less than 0.001. Diabetics in groups C and D exhibited notably elevated levels of total cholesterol in comparison to groups A and B, with a statistical significance of p< 0.01. There were no big changes in the levels of HDL-cholesterol between groups A and B and the control group. However, groups C and D displayed a little but non-significant drop in HDL-cholesterol levels in comparison to controls. LDL cholesterol concentrations were found to be comparable between the controls and group A T2DM patients. However, a statistically significant increase in LDL cholesterol levels was observed in patient groups C and D when contrasted to the controls (p<0.001). Group D had significantly greater levels of LDL compared to patients in group A (p < 0.001). The triglyceride levels in groups A, B, and C exhibited an increase that was statistically significant when contrasted to the control group (p<0.01). Group D patients exhibited a statistically significant elevation in their TG values in comparison to the controls, with a p-value of less than 0.001. In addition, Group D had markedly elevated levels of TG in comparison to groups A and Group B, with a p-value of less than 0.01.
4.3. Levels of Interleukins
Table 3 presents a summary of the blood concentrations of interleukins 10, 19, and 22 in T2DM male patients and controls.
4.4. Interleukin-10.
The average blood IL-10 concentration in the control group of healthy males was found to be 18.78 ± 2.21 pg/mL. Groups A and B exhibited substantial reductions (p<0.001) in IL-10 levels, measuring 7.89 ± 1.45 and 7.32 ± 1.36 pg/mL, respectively, as compared to the control group. Patients in Group C and Group D had statistically significant reductions in IL-10 levels (11.78±1.87 and 13.56±1.92 pg/mL, respectively) when compared to the control group. The p-values for these comparisons were found to be less than 0.01 and less than 0.05, respectively. The IL-10 levels of patients in groups C and D were found to be significantly lower than those in groups A and B (p < 0.05).
4.5. Interleukin-19.
The IL-19 level (mean ± SD) in the male controls (N=44) was 72 ± 21.45 pg/mL. Male T2DM patients in groups A and B depicted a statistically significant increase (p<0.01) in IL-19 concentrations (232± 21.45 and 273 ± 29.66 pg/mL) respectively, as compared to controls. Group C and D patients displayed very significant increases in IL-19 values (310 ± 32.24 and 356 ± 43.64 pg/mL respectively) in comparison with controls with p values of < 0.001 and < 0.001. Patients in groups C and D had significantly greater IL-19 levels in comparison with those in groups A and B (p<0.05).
4.6. Interleukin-22.
The average serum IL-22 concentration in the male controls (N=44) was found to be 46 ± 12.48 pg/mL. The patients in Group A exhibited a slight, albeit statistically insignificant elevation in IL-22 levels (52± 17.45 versus 46 ± 12.48 pg/mL). Group B patients depicted substantial elevation in IL-22 levels in comparison to both the control group and group A (p<0.05). The levels of IL-22 in group C exhibited a statistically significant rise when contrasted with controls, p<0.01. Patients in Group C had a notable increase in IL-22 levels in comparison to Group B, with p < 0.04. While comparing to both the controls and group A, IL-22 levels were considerably greater in patients in group D (p<0.001).
Figure 2 presents the cluster charts depicting the levels of serum interleukin 10 family members in both male control and patient groups.
4.7. Interleukin-10 in Female groups.
Table 4 provides a summary of the serum levels of interleukins 10, 19, and 22 in T2DM female patients (N=74) and 41 individuals serving as control subjects. The average serum IL-10 concentration in the control group of healthy females was found to be 19.12 ± 2.28 pg/mL, a value comparable to that observed in the control group of males. Group A exhibited a statistically significant reduction (p<0.001) in interleukin-10 (IL-10) concentrations as compared to the control subjects. The female patients in group B exhibited a noteworthy reduction in IL-10 levels (11.68 ± 1.55 pg/mL) in contrast to controls, with a p<0.01. Patients in Group C and D had a slight, albeit statistically insignificant reduction in IL-10 levels in comparison with the controls.
4.8. Interleukin-19 in female T2DM patients.
The average blood IL-19 concentration in the control group of female individuals without any medical conditions (N=) was determined to be 67 ± 17.42 pg/mL. Female T2DM patients in groups A and B exhibited statistically significant increases in interleukin-19 (IL-19) concentrations (168± 26.78 and 212± 28.22 pg/mL, respectively) in comparison to controls. The observed increases were highly significant statistically with p<0.01). Simultaneously, it was observed that group B exhibited significantly higher IL-19 levels in comparison to group A (p<0.01). Patients in Group C and Group D exhibited a statistically very significant elevation in IL-19 levels (276± 35.14 and 288 ± 36.98 pg/mL, respectively) when contrasted with controls (p<0.0001). In addition, IL-19 levels were significantly higher in Groups C and D as opposed to Group A (p<0.001).
4.9. Interleukin-22 in Female T2DM patients.
The average blood IL-22 concentration in the control group of healthy females (N=41) was found to be 44± 12.02 pg/mL as are presented in
Table 4.. The patients in Group A exhibited a little, albeit statistically insignificant rise in IL-22 levels (48± 14.08 versus 44± 12.02 pg/mL). Group B diabetics had a statistically significant (p<0.01) elevation in interleukin-22 (IL-22) levels in comparison to both the controls and group A. IL-22 values in group C exhibited a statistically significant rise in comparison to the controls, as well as groups A and B, with p-values less than 0.01, 0.01, and 0.04, respectively. The levels of IL-22 in Group D patients were significantly higher than those in the controls (p<0.001). and also, those of groups A (p<0.001) and B p<0.04). The cluster charts of serum interleukin concentrations in 74 female patients and 41 controls are displayed in
Figure 3.