Dissociation of biological age and blood interleukins in patients aged 45–59 years with diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background. The development of diabetic retinopathy is favoured by immunological factors such as interleukins (IL) and chemokines. However, analysis of blood interleukins in patients aged 45–59 years with diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus, who have biological age acceleration, has not yet been presented in publications.

The aim of the research. To study the content of blood interleukins in patients aged 45–59 years with diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus, who have an excess of biological age over chronological age.

Materials and methods. 241 patients aged 45–59 years with diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus were examined in a clinical setting. Biological age acceleration over chronological age was found in 148 patients, biological and chronological age concorded in 51 patients. The content of interleukins in the blood was studied in all patients using an enzyme-linked immunoassay.

Results. The concentration of blood interleukins in patients with biological age exceeding chronological, compared with patients aged 45–59 years with concordance of biological and  chronological age, was statistically significantly different for most blood interleukins and especially for IL-6, the concentration of which was  20.8  ±  1,2  pg/ml versus 3.9  ±  0.6  pg/ml, respectively (p  <  0.001). IL-13, IL-17 were significantly increased among patients with biological age acceleration over chronological; their concentrations were 2.1 ± 0.4 and 16.5 ± 0.6 pg/ml versus 0.5 ± 0.2 and 7.9 ± 0.7 pg/ml in the comparison group (p < 0.001). In contrast, IL-4 and IL-10 levels were higher in patients aged 45–59 years with diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus and with concordance of biological and chronological age.

Conclusion. IL-6, IL-8, IL-13, IL-17, IL-4 and IL-10 may serve as markers of biological age dissociation in patients aged 45–59 years with diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

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