Systemic Cytokine Expression in Diabetes Is Associated with Prolonged Gastrointestinal Transit Times and Cardinal Gastroparesis Symptoms

Tina Okdahl, Anne-Marie Wegeberg, Anne Birthe Helweg Jensen, Sarah Thorius Jensen, Helene Riis Pontoppidan Andersen, Joachim Storling, Birgitte Brock, Christina Brock*

*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

Gastroenteropathy is a common complication in diabetes associated with damages to the enteric nervous system. Systemic low-grade inflammation facilitates neurotoxicity, and associations with peripheral and autonomic neuropathy have been reported. However, less is known of associations with gastroenteropathy. To explore the area cross-sectionally, we included individuals with diabetes (type 1: 56, type 2: 100) and 21 healthy controls. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and interferon (IFN)-gamma were measured by multiplex technology. Segmental gastrointestinal transit times were assessed by wireless motility capsule investigations. Symptoms of gastroparesis were rated on Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index questionnaires. Compared to healthy, levels of TNF-alpha were decreased in type 1 diabetes and increased in type 2 diabetes, while colonic transit time was increased (all p < 0.05). In diabetes, associations between IL-8 and prolonged gastric emptying (odds ratio (OR) 1.07, p = 0.027) and between IL-10 and prolonged colonic transit (OR 29.99, p = 0.013) were seen. Inverse correlations between IL-6 and nausea/vomiting (rho = -0.19, p = 0.026) and bloating (rho = -0.29; p < 0.001) were found. These findings indicate a plausible interaction between inflammation and the enteric nervous system in diabetes, which raises the question of whether anti-inflammatory strategies could be applied in management of diabetic gastroenteropathy.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1027
JournalBiomedicines
Volume11
Issue number4
Number of pages11
ISSN2227-9059
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Keywords

  • enteric nervous system
  • diabetes
  • gastroenteropathy
  • inflammation
  • cytokine
  • wireless motility capsule
  • TNF-ALPHA
  • MOTILITY
  • TYPE-1
  • INTERLEUKIN-6
  • NEUROPATHY
  • INFLAMMATION
  • MECHANISMS
  • MODEL
  • IL-6

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