Th1 related chemokines CCL3 and CCL5 and Th2 related CCL4 as ligands of the receptor CCR5 contribute to disease development in animal models of type 1 diabetes. In humans, no data are available addressing the role of these chemokines regarding disease progression and remission. We investigated longitudinally circulating concentrations of CCR5 ligands of 256 newly diagnosed patients with type 1 diabetes. CCR5 ligands were differentially associated with β-cell function and clinical remission. CCL5 was decreased in remitters and positively associated with HbA1c suggestive of a Th1 associated progression of the disease. Likewise, CCL3 was negatively related to C-peptide and positively associated with the β-cell stress marker proinsulin but increased in remitters. CCL4 associated with decreased β-cell stress shown by negative association with proinsulin. Blockage of chemokines or antagonism of CCR5 by therapeutic agents such as maraviroc may provide a new therapeutic target to ameliorate disease progression in type 1 diabetes.

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doi.org/10.1016/j.clim.2008.03.458, hdl.handle.net/1765/30458
Clinical Immunology
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Pfleger, C., Kaas, A., Hansen, L., Alizadeh, B., Hougaard, P., Holl, R., … Schloot, N. (2008). Relation of circulating concentrations of chemokine receptor CCR5 ligands to C-peptide, proinsulin and HbA1c and disease progression in type 1 diabetes. Clinical Immunology, 128(1), 57–65. doi:10.1016/j.clim.2008.03.458