Pregnant type 1 diabetes women with rises in C-peptide display higher levels of regulatory T cells: A pilot study

• Published in: Diabetes & metabolism Vol. 47; no. 3; p. 101188
• Main Authors: Amouyal, C., Klatzmann, D., Tibi, E., Salem, J.-E., Halbron, M., Popelier, M., Jacqueminet, S., Ciangura, C., Bourron, O., Andreelli, F., Hartemann, A., Rosenzwajg, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier Masson SAS 01-05-2021; Elsevier Masson
• Subjects: C peptide; C-Peptide - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - blood; Female; Humans; Interleukin-2 - blood; Interleukine 2; Life Sciences; Pilot Projects; Pregnancy; Pregnancy in Diabetics - blood; Regulatory T cells; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; Type 1 diabetes; Pregnancy; Regulatory T cells; Type 1 diabetes; C peptide; Interleukine 2
• ISSN: 1262-3636; 1878-1780
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diabet.2020.04.005

During pregnancy of type 1 diabetes (T1D) women, a C peptide rise has been described, which mechanism is unclear. In T1D, a defect of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and its major controlling cytokine, interleukin-2 (IL2), is observed.
Evolution of clinical, immunological (Treg (CD4+CD25hiCD127-/loFoxp3+ measured by flow cytometry and IL2 measured by luminex xMAP technology) and diabetes parameters (insulin dose per day, HbA1C, glycaemia, C peptide) was evaluated in 13 T1D women during the three trimesters of pregnancy and post-partum (PP, within 6 months) in a monocentric pilot study. Immunological parameters were compared with those of a healthy pregnant cohort (QuTe).
An improvement of beta cell function (C peptide rise and/or a decrease of insulin dose-adjusted A1c index that estimate individual exogenous insulin need) was observed in seven women (group 1) whereas the six others (group 2) did not display any positive response to pregnancy. A higher level of Tregs and IL2 was observed in group 1 compared to group 2 during pregnancy and at PP for Tregs level. However, compared to the healthy cohort, T1D women displayed a Treg deficiency
This pilot study highlights that higher level of Tregs and IL2 seem to allow improvement of endogenous insulin secretion of T1D women during pregnancy.