Progression of Type 1 Diabetes is Associated with High Levels of Soluble PD-1 in Islet Autoantibody-positive Children

Overview

Journal Diabetologia

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2024 Jan 12

PMID 38214712

Authors

Sara Bruzzaniti

Erica Piemonte

Dario Bruzzese

Maria Teresa Lepore

Rocky Strollo

Lavinia Izzo

Francesca Di Candia

Adriana Franzese

Maurizio Bifulco

Enza Mozzillo

Johnny Ludvigsson

Giuseppe Matarese

Mario Galgani

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Aims/hypothesis: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder that is characterised by destruction of pancreatic beta cells by autoreactive T lymphocytes. Although islet autoantibodies (AAb) are an indicator of disease progression, specific immune biomarkers that can be used as target molecules to halt development of type 1 diabetes have not been discovered. Soluble immune checkpoint molecules (sICM) play a pivotal role in counteracting excessive lymphocyte responses, but their role in type 1 diabetes is unexplored. In this longitudinal study, we measured sICM levels in AAb-positive (AAb) children to identify molecules related to type 1 diabetes progression.

Methods: We measured the levels of 14 sICM in the sera of AAb children (n=57) compared to those with recent-onset type 1 diabetes (n=79) and healthy children (n=44), obtained from two cohorts. AAb children were followed up and divided based on their progression to type 1 diabetes (AAb) or not (AAb) (if they lost islet autoimmunity and did not develop disease in subsequent years). sICM were also measured in the sample taken at the visit closest to disease onset in AAb children.

Results: We found that AAb children had a distinct sICM profile compared with healthy children and those with recent-onset type 1 diabetes. In addition, AAb children who progressed to type 1 diabetes (AAb) had higher sICM concentrations than non-progressors (AAb). Further, sICM levels decreased in AAb children close to disease onset. Application of Cox regression models highlighted that high concentrations of soluble programmed cell death protein 1 (sPD-1) are associated with type 1 diabetes progression (HR 1.71; 95% CI 1.16, 2.51; p=0.007).

Conclusions/interpretation: This study reveals an sICM profile that is dysregulated during the preclinical stage of type 1 diabetes, and identifies sPD-1 as a pathophysiologically-relevant molecule that is associated with disease progression, offering a potential target for early interventions in autoimmune diabetes.

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