Leukocyte Profiles Differ Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes and Are Associated With Metabolic Phenotypes: Results From the German Diabetes Study (GDS)

Altered immune reactivity precedes and accompanies type 1 and type 2 diabetes. We hypothesized that the metabolic phenotype relates to the systemic cellular immune status. A total of 194 metabolically well-controlled patients with type 1 diabetes (n = 62, mean diabetes duration 1.29 years) or type 2 diabetes (n = 132, 1.98 years) and 60 normoglycemic persons underwent blood sampling for automated white blood cell counting (WBC) and flow cytometry. Whole-body insulin sensitivity was measured with hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp tests. Patients with type 2 diabetes had higher WBC counts than control subjects along with a higher percentage of T cells and activated T helper (Th) and cytotoxic T (Tc) cells but lower proportions of natural killer (NK) cells. In type 1 diabetes, the percentage of activated Th and Tc cells was also higher compared with control subjects, whereas the ratio of regulatory T (Treg) cells to activated Th cells was lower, suggesting diminished regulatory capacity. Parameters of glycemic control related positively to Treg cells only in type 2 diabetes. Upon age, sex, and body mass adjustments, insulin sensitivity correlated positively with monocytes, while circulating lipids correlated positively with T cell subsets in type 1 diabetes. Immune cell phenotypes showed distinct frequencies of occurrence in both diabetes types and associate with insulin sensitivity, glycemia, and lipidemia.