Circulating inflammatory proteins are elevated in type 1 and type 2 diabetes and associated to complications.

van Heck, Julia I. P.; Ajie, Mandala; Joosten, Leo A. B.; Tack, Cees J.; Stienstra, Rinke

Background: The presence of low‐grade inflammation has been reported in people with type 2 diabetes and related to the development of (macro)vascular complications. Whether systemic inflammation is present in type 1 diabetes and linked to long‐term complications remains unknown. We used a targeted proteomics approach to compare inflammation in people with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes with control subjects and linked these proteins to diabetes related characteristics and complications. Methods: We included 233 participants with type 1 diabetes, 387 participants with type 2 diabetes and 150 healthy controls. Plasma was collected and used to determine high sensitive C‐reactive proteins (hs‐CRP) and an additional 92 inflammatory proteins using the Olink proteomics platform. Results: Compared to healthy controls, 41 circulating inflammatory proteins were higher in type 1 diabetes (FDR < 0.05) and 64 inflammatory proteins in type 2 diabetes (FDR < 0.05) (including CXCL5, IL‐15RA, MCP‐4 and AXIN1 for both groups). HbA1c levels were positively associated with 21 inflammatory proteins (including CDCP1, FGF‐21, HGF and IL‐18R1) in type 1 diabetes (FDR < 0.05), whereas a positive association existed between body mass index (BMI) and 26 inflammatory proteins (including IL6, IL17C, FGF‐23 and CSF‐1) in type 2 diabetes. Inflammatory proteins associated with the presences, of complications, particularly nephropathy, were similar in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. FlT3L and EN‐RAGE were associated with the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in type 2 diabetes. Conclusions: Both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are associated with increased circulating inflammatory protein concentrations, but the increase is more pronounced in type 2 diabetes. These results suggest both differences in drivers of inflammation between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes as well as potential similarities in pathways involved in the development of diabetes‐associated complications.

TYPE 2 diabetes; TYPE 1 diabetes; DIABETES complications; BODY mass index; GLYCOSYLATED hemoglobin

Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism, 2025, Vol 27, Issue 2, p719

1462-8902

Academic Journal

10.1111/dom.16066