Metabolic, genetic and immunological features of relatives of type 1 diabetes patients with elevated insulin resistance

Insulin resistance plays a pivotal role in the preclinical stages of type 1 diabetes (T1D).

This study aims at exploring the genetic, metabolic, and immunological features associated with insulin resistance among individuals at risk of developing T1D.

We retrospectively selected relatives of individuals with T1D from participants in the TrialNet Pathway to Prevention study. They were categorized into two groups: high-H (n = 27) and low-H (n = 30), based on the upper and lower quartiles of insulin resistance assessed using the Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Genetic predisposition was determined using the T1D Genetic Risk Score 1 (GRS1). Additionally, glucose control was evaluated through an oral glucose tolerance test and levels of metabolic hormones and inflammatory cytokines were measured in the serum. Flow cytometry analysis was employed to assess frequency and phenotype of islet-specific CD8 T cells.

While GRS1 were similar between the low-H and high-H groups, high-H individuals displayed a distinct metabolic profile, characterized by compensatory hyperinsulinemia, even while maintaining normoglycemia. Circulating cytokine levels were similar between the two groups. However, immune profiling revealed a central memory and activated profile of GAD65-specific CD8 T cells, along with an increased frequency of insulin-specific CD8 T cells in high-H individuals. The enrichment in insulin-specific CD8 T cells was independent of body mass.

These findings highlight the intricate interplay between insulin resistance, genetic factors, and immune activation in the context of T1D susceptibility, indicating potential connections between insulin resistance and immune responses specific to islet cells.