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Horm Metab Res 1998; 30(3): 158-161
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-978857
Originals Clinical

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Significance of Tumor Necrosis Factor α in Patients with Long-Standing Type-I Diabetes Mellitus

J. Myśliwska3 , K. Zorena3 , A. Bąkowska1 , A. Skuratowicz-Kubica2 , A. Myśliwski3
  • 1Department of Immunopathology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
  • 2Academic Clinic of Hypertension and Diabetes, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
  • 3Department of Histology and Immunology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
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1996

1997

Publication Date:
20 April 2007 (online)

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Fifteen out of the forty-five patients with long-standing diabetes mellitus type I were characterised by the presence of TNFα in the sera when examined on several occasions over a period of five years. TNFα-producing patients had a better control of the disease and a smaller percentage of them suffered from diabetic complications as compared with those not producing this cytokine. TNFα-producing patients had lower levels of the proinflammatory markers - IL6 and CRP, and higher concentrations of ACTH and cortisol than those not producing this cytokine. We suggest that TNFα released systemically in diabetic patients stimulates the hypophysis-adrenal axis, and in that way indirectly ameliorates autoimmune response occurring during the advanced phase of the disease.

Key words

TNFα - Proinflammatory Markers - ACTH - Diabetes Mellitus of Type I