Beta-cell Death and/or Stress Biomarkers in Diabetes Mellitus Type 1

Diabetes Mellitus type 1 (T1D) occurs due to disturbance intolerance of the immune system and invasion of β-cells by auto-reactive immune T cells and inducing deterioration of β-cells activity and viability and a prolong therapy with external insulin.  This study was aimed to detect the predictive power as well as the degree of correlation of defined glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibody (GADA), protein tyrosine phosphatase type A2 (IA-2A) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) biomarkers on β-cells stress and/or death in T1D individuals as well as their first degree relatives (FDRs). Three groups of T1D patients, FDRs and apparently diseases free subjects had been enrolled in this work and evaluated for their serum GADA, IA-2A, C-peptide and TAC. The results revealed positive GADA and IA-2A in 88.6% and 40%, respectively, of T1D patients. The frequency of normal level and mean titer of C-peptide were significantly low among T1D and their FDRs, also the frequency of normal level and mean titer of TAC was significantly low among T1D patients. However, no significant difference in C-peptide level was noticed between the GADA+ and GADA- subjects with no significant effect of TAC level on the concentration of C-peptide. Finally, the concentration of C-peptide was significantly lower in IA-2-A positive than IA-2-A negative individuals. In conclusion, GADA, IA-2A and C-peptide combination can suggest the most powerful and cost-effective diagnostic approach in patients with T1D and their FDRs.  In addition, IA-2A in T1D patient’s serum can be predicted for β-cell death and/or stress, however, GADA and TAC was found of no effect on the C-peptide level.