Role of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and its association with inflammatory markers in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Diwesh Chawla 1, Rajarshi Kar 2, *, Dinesh Puri 2 and Sri Venkata Madhu 3

1 Central Research Laboratory, Multi-disciplinary Research Unit, University College of Medical Sciences (University of Delhi) and G.T.B. Hospital, Dilshad Garden, Delhi-110095, India.
2 Department of Biochemistry, University College of Medical Sciences (University of Delhi) and G.T.B. Hospital, Dilshad Garden, Delhi-110095, India.
3 Department of Endocrinology, Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism, University College of Medical Sciences (University of Delhi) and G.T.B. Hospital, Dilshad Garden, Delhi-110095, India.
 
Research Article
Article DOI: 10.30574/gscbps.2023.22.3.0094
Publication history: 
Received on 25 January 2023; revised on 06 March 2023; accepted on 08 March 2023
 
Abstract: 
Background: Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial disease associated with hyperglycemia and increased risk of progression of vascular complications. Stimulation of insulin secretion by the incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) has been found to be diminished in hyperglycemia. We hypothesized that this impairment is due to defect at the receptor level induced by the diabetic state. Inflammatory markers like TNF-α and IL-6 plays a potential role in the pathogenesis of T2DM. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate whether GLP-1 plays a role in the development of T2DM by modulating the balance between pro and anti-inflammatory markers.
Material and methods: A total of 60 subjects were recruited in this study among them 30 were T2DM cases and 30 were healthy controls. m-RNA expression and protein level of GLP-1 receptor, TNF-α and IL-6 in peripheral blood lymphocytes were determined by real time PCR and ELISA respectively.
Results: We observed plasma level of GLP-1 was significantly lower in diabetic subjects while serum level of IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly higher level in diabetic subjects (p < 0.05). We found significant down regulation of GLP-1 receptor m-RNA expression in diabetic subjects while expression level of IL-6 and TNF-α were 5.8 and 4 folds respectively higher in diabetic subjects. We found significant negative correlation of m-RNA expression of GLP-1 with protein level while IL-6 and TNF-α showed significant positive correlation.
Conclusion: Inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and low GLP-1 levels may promote expression of inflammatory markers due to lack of anti-inflammatory effects of GLP-1
 
Keywords: 
Inflammation; Glucagon-like peptide 1; TNF-α; IL-6;Diabetes mellitus
 
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