The Interaction Between Interleukin-۲۹ and Toll-Like Receptor-۴ in the Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Patients With Type ۲ Diabetes

Background and aims: The Toll-like receptor-۴ (TLR-۴) signaling pathway and its interaction with cytokines are involved in insulin resistance (IR) progression, primarily through activating adipose tissue macrophages. Interleukin-۲۹ (IL-۲۹) has been suggested as a potential contributor to IR. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the relationship between TLR-۴ and IL-۲۹ expression alterations in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of newly diagnosed type ۲ diabetes (T۲D) patients. Methods: Overall, ۶۰ participants were enrolled, comprising equal numbers of newly diagnosed T۲D patients and healthy controls. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was employed to determine the messenger RNA expression levels of toll-like receptor-۴ (TLR-۴), interleukin (IL)-۲۹, TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β (TRIF), and interferon regulatory factor ۳ (IRF۳). Moreover, serum IL-۲۹ concentrations were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were analyzed through SPSS ۱۶. In addition, an independent-sample t-test was used to compare the data between the two groups. Ultimately, the relationship between variables was assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: Overall, IL-۲۹ serum levels were significantly increased in the T۲D group compared to the control group (P<۰.۰۰۱). Additionally, the gene expression levels of IL-۲۹, TLR۴, TRIF, and IRF۳ were markedly upregulated in T۲D patients relative to healthy individuals (P<۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: These findings revealed that IL-۲۹ overexpression is linked to the activation of the TLR-۴ pathway, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of IR in T۲D.