High glycemic variability is associated with a reduced T cell cytokine response to influenza A virus

• Published in: iScience Vol. 27; no. 11; p. 111166
• Main Authors: Tong, Marcus Z.W., Hulme, Katina D., Law, Soi Cheng, Noye, Ellesandra, Dorey, Emily S., Chew, Keng Yih, Rowntree, Louise C., van de Sandt, Carolien E., Kedzierska, Katherine, Goeijenbier, Marco, Ronacher, Katharina, Alzaid, Fawaz, Julla, Jean-Baptiste, Riveline, Jean-Pierre, Lineburg, Katie E., Smith, Corey, Grant, Emma J., Gras, Stephanie, Gallo, Linda A., Barrett, Helen L., Short, Kirsty R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 15-11-2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Endocrinology; Human metabolism; Human metabolism; Endocrinology
• ISSN: 2589-0042; 2589-0042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.111166

Diabetes mellitus significantly increases the risk of severe respiratory virus disease like influenza and COVID-19. Early evidence suggests that this susceptibility to respiratory viral disease is driven by glycemic variability, rather than average blood glucose levels. Here, we use blood samples and constant glucose monitoring (CGM) data obtained from people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) to determine the effects of glycemic variability on the ex vivo T cell response to influenza virus. We show that high glycemic variability in participants living with T1D is associated with a reduced proportion of CD8+CD107a−IFNγ−MIP1β−TNF+ T cells in response to stimulation with influenza virus and an influenza virus peptide pool. Thus, this study provides evidence that glycemic variability affects the ex vivo T cell response to respiratory viruses. These data suggest that monitoring glycemic variability may have important implications in understanding the antiviral immune response in people with diabetes.
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•Glycemic variability in diabetes can be assessed using continuous glucose monitoring•High glycemic variability is linked to fewer cytokine-producing T cells to flu•High glycemic variability is linked to more naive CD8+ T cells and fewer TEMRA CD8+ T cell
Endocrinology; Human metabolism