ASSESSMENT OF INFLAMMATORY AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES IN IRAQI PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES

Chronic low-grade inflammation. is increasingly recognized as a central feature in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines play critical roles in mediating immune-metabolic interactions that influence insulin resistance and disease progression. This study aims to evaluate the serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in patients with T2DM compared to healthy individuals also to assess their relationship with clinical parameters such as age and body mass index (BMI). This case-control study included 100 participants: 70 patients diagnosed with T2DM and 30 healthy age- and sex- mostly matched controls. Serum cytokine levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Clinical data including age and BMI were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed to compare cytokine levels between groups and assess correlations with age and BMI. Diabetic patients exhibited significantly higher levels of IL-6 (8.2 ± 1.7 pg/mL) and TNF-α (13.3 ± 7.2 pg/mL) compared to controls (3.5 ± 1.2 pg/mL and 5.5 ± 3.1 pg/mL, respectively; p-value < 0.05). Conversely, IL-10 levels were markedly lower in the diabetic group (4.6 ± 2.9 pg/mL) than in controls (7.3 ± 3.3 pg/mL; p = 0.011). While age was similar between groups (p = 0.21), BMI was significantly higher in diabetic patients (p-value < 0.001), and positively correlated with IL-6 and TNF-α. Patients with T2DM exhibit an imbalanced cytokine profile marked by elevated pro-inflammatory and reduced anti-inflammatory markers which consistent with a state of chronic inflammation. These alterations appear to be associated more with obesity than with age. Monitoring cytokine levels may offer valuable insight into the immunometabolic status of diabetic patients and could serve as a target for therapeutic intervention.