CD26/DPP4 Levels in Peripheral Blood and T Cells in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Context: Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (CD26/DPP4) is expressed on blood T cells and also circulates in a soluble form (sCD26/DPP4). Objective: We aimed to evaluate blood T cell and circulating CD26/DPP4 and its association with metabolic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Designs: We measured CD26/DPP4 expression (percentage of CD26+ cells using flow cytometry) on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, serum CD26/DPP4 level and activity, and various metabolic parameters in T2DM patients not on DPP4 inhibitor therapy (n = 148). Nondiabetic subjects (n = 50) were included as a control group. Results: Compared with the healthy controls, CD26/DPP4 expression on CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells was higher in T2DM patients. Serum CD26/DPP4 levels and enzymatic activities were also higher in patients with T2DM than in the control group only when metformin and/or thiazolidinedione-treated T2DM patients were excluded; metformin and/or thiazolidinedione-treated T2DM patients had lower values compared with other T2DM patients. Various parameters in T2DM patients were related to CD26/DPP4 expression on the T cells (hemoglobin A1c), serum sCD26/DPP4 (hemoglobin A1c and insulin resistance assessed by updated homeostasis model assessment), and serum CD26/DPP4 activity (insulin resistance assessed by updated homeostasis model assessment, γ-glutamyl transferase, and alanine aminotransferase) by multivariate analyses. After active glucose control for 12 weeks in drug-naive T2DM patients (n = 50), CD26/DPP4 expression on blood T cells was significantly decreased. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the CD26/DPP4 level on blood T cells was associated with glucose control status in patients with T2DM.