@article{a0555d4035a111df8ed1000ea68e967b,
title = "Sustained effects of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist treatment in type 2 diabetes",
abstract = "OBJECTIVE: Interleukin (IL)-1 impairs insulin secretion and induces beta-cell apoptosis. Pancreatic beta-cell IL-1 expression is increased and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) expression reduced in patients with type 2 diabetes. Treatment with recombinant IL-1Ra improves glycemia and beta-cell function and reduces inflammatory markers in patients with type 2 diabetes. Here we investigated the durability of these responses. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Among 70 ambulatory patients who had type 2 diabetes, A1C >7.5%, and BMI >27 kg/m(2) and were randomly assigned to receive 13 weeks of anakinra, a recombinant human IL-1Ra, or placebo, 67 completed treatment and were included in this double-blind 39-week follow-up study. Primary outcome was change in beta-cell function after anakinra withdrawal. Analysis was done by intention to treat. RESULTS: Thirty-nine weeks after anakinra withdrawal, the proinsulin-to-insulin (PI/I) ratio but not stimulated C-peptide remained improved (by -0.07 [95% CI -0.14 to -0.02], P = 0.011) compared with values in placebo-treated patients. Interestingly, a subgroup characterized by genetically determined low baseline IL-1Ra serum levels maintained the improved stimulated C-peptide obtained by 13 weeks of IL-1Ra treatment. Reductions in C-reactive protein (-3.2 mg/l [-6.2 to -1.1], P = 0.014) and in IL-6 (-1.4 ng/l [-2.6 to -0.3], P = 0.036) were maintained until the end of study. CONCLUSIONS: IL-1 blockade with anakinra induces improvement of the PI/I ratio and markers of systemic inflammation lasting 39 weeks after treatment withdrawal.",
author = "Larsen, {Claus M} and Mirjam Faulenbach and Allan Vaag and Ehses, {Jan A} and Donath, {Marc Y} and Thomas Mandrup-Poulsen",
note = "Keywords: Antirheumatic Agents; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Female; Humans; Insulin-Secreting Cells; Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; Male; Young Adult",
year = "2009",
doi = "10.2337/dc09-0533",
language = "English",
volume = "32",
pages = "1663--8",
journal = "Diabetes Care",
issn = "0149-5992",
publisher = "American Diabetes Association",
number = "9",
}