T-lymphocyte subpopulations in pregnant women with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1992. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

T-lymphocyte subpopulations in pregnant women with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes.

Diabetes Res. 1990 Aug;14(4):187-90. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/92070024
Buschard K; Kuhl C; Molsted-Pedersen L; Ropke C; Bartholin Institute, Kommunehospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Abstract: The thymus-dependent immune system is involved in the disease process underlying Type 1 diabetes. Several studies have thus shown the distribution of peripheral T-lymphocyte subsets to be altered in diabetics. Unlike many other autoimmune diseases which improve during pregnancy, Type 1 diabetes has a higher incidence in pregnant than in non-pregnant women. Therefore, in this study the distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations in the blood was examined in pregnant, newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetic patients and compared with values from non-pregnant patients and healthy controls. The pregnant diabetics displayed a higher percentage of CD8+ cells (28.4 +/- 1.2%) than the non-pregnant diabetics (21.6 +/- 1.3%, p less than 0.005), but did not differ from the controls (29.0 +/- 1.3%). The CD3+ and CD4+ cell distribution displayed no significant difference within the groups. Among the pregnant diabetics a positive correlation was found between the percentage of CD4+ cells and the week of pregnancy when diabetes was diagnosed (p less than 0.01). No other correlations between immunological and clinical parameters were found. Thus the subsets of immune cells are not changed in an autoimmune direction for pregnant, newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetics as they are for non-pregnant. Therefore, the increased incidence of Type 1 diabetes in pregnant women is unlikely to be due to intensified autoimmune alterations in the immune system, but rather to changes induced in the beta-cells during pregnancy as discussed.

Keywords: Adult Antigens, CD4/ANALYSIS Antigens, CD8/ANALYSIS *CD4-CD8 Ratio Diabetes Mellitus, Insulin-Dependent/*IMMUNOLOGY Female Human Pregnancy Pregnancy in Diabetes/*IMMUNOLOGY Pregnancy Trimester, First Pregnancy Trimester, Second Prospective Studies Reference Values T-Lymphocyte Subsets/*IMMUNOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE

920330
M9230740

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Gill Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Quest Diagnostics, Roche and Trimeris, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1992. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 1992. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .