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Thymic emigration patterns in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with metformin
Author(s) -
Dworacki Grzegorz,
Urazayev Olzhas,
Bekmukhambetov Yerbol,
Iskakova Saule,
Frycz Bartosz A.,
Jagodziński Paweł P.,
Dworacka Marzena
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1111/imm.12522
Subject(s) - immunosurveillance , metformin , immune system , population , naive t cell , t cell , immunology , medicine , endocrinology , biology , diabetes mellitus , cancer research , t cell receptor , environmental health
Summary Recent data suggest that thymic output, which provides the naive T cells necessary for the normal functioning of T‐cell‐dependent immunosurveillance cellular immunity including anti‐cancer protection, can be disturbed in the course of type 2 diabetes. Metformin, an anti‐diabetic drug commonly confirmed as an agent with many potential anti‐cancer activities, might be helpful in this immune correction. The profile of thymic output was evaluated in the current study on the basis of the signal‐joint T‐cell receptor excision circle (sj TREC ) concentration in peripheral blood polymorphonuclear cells and thymic emigrant content in peripheral blood evaluated from CD 127 and/or CD 132 antigen expression. It was revealed that recent thymic emigrants and more differentiated CD 127 + CD132 + cell populations were decreased among naive T cells and CD 8 + T cells, whereas RTE count was increased in CD 4 + T cells, and the CD 127 + CD132 + cell population was less numerous than in non‐diabetic participants. Terminally differentiated thymic emigrants, i.e. CD 127 − CD132 + cells, were increased in naive T cells and in CD 8 + T cells. Metformin affects mainly the early phases of thymic export, increasing CD 127 + CD132 − and CD 127 + CD132 + cell populations in naive T cells and the CD 127 + CD132 − population in CD 4 + T lymphocytes. It could be concluded that type 2 diabetes deteriorates thymic immunostasis. The decreased thymic output could be compensated by metformin, especially with regard to CD 4 + naive T cells. It is the first time that therapy with metformin has been documented by us as particularly useful in the control and normalization of thymus function, regarding correction of early populations of thymic emigrants.