REGULATION OF L-ARGININE METABOLISM BY ANTI-INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11603/1811-2471.2026.v.i1.15704Keywords:
type 1 diabetes mellitus, L-Arginine, arginase, endothelial NO synthase, anti-inflammatory cytokinesAbstract
SUMMARY. The study examines the specific effects of anti-inflammatory cytokines on the enzymatic pathways of L-arginine metabolism in patients with type 1 diabetes. It was found that decreased levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 are associated with suppression of the arginase pathway and activation of the NO-synthase pathway of arginine conversion.
The aim – to investigate the influence of anti-inflammatory cytokines on L-arginine metabolism under conditions of type 1 diabetes.
Material and Methods. 28 patients with type 1 diabetes were examined. The control group consisted of 15 practically healthy individuals of a similar age range.
Blood sampling was performed in the morning on an empty stomach from the cubital vein in a volume of 5 ml during the hospitalization of patients. The concentration of glucose in the blood was determined by the glucose oxidase method; normal values were considered to be within the range of 3.5–6.0 mmol/l. In the blood serum of patients, the activity of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), arginase activity, arginine concentration, and the level of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 were determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results. In patients with type 1 diabetes, decreased levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 (by 43 %) and IL-10 (by 20 %) were observed, indicating activation of immunopathological processes. Arginase activity in blood serum decreased by 28 %, while eNOS activity increased by 33.4 %, accompanied by a 1.3-fold reduction in L-arginine levels. This indicates a predominance of the NO-synthase pathway of arginine conversion, which temporarily compensates for vascular dysfunction. The balance between arginase and eNOS activity is essential for support of vascular homeostasis in type 1 diabetes.
Conclusions. The decrease in IL-4 and IL-10 levels in type 1 diabetes promotes an increase in nitric oxide production due to activation of the NO-synthase pathway of arginine conversion, which allows partial alleviation of inflammatory endothelial damage even under conditions of chronic hyperglycemia.
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Accepted 2026-01-27
Published 2026-04-22
