Associations of cells from both innate and adaptive immunity with lower nerve conduction velocity: the Maastricht Study

Abstract

IntroductionDistal sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN) is common in people with diabetes but is also found in pre-diabetes. Peripheral nerve myelin damage, which can be assessed by reduced nerve conduction velocity (NCV), is an essential feature of DSPN. Emerging evidence indicates that the development of DSPN may involve the activation of the immune system. However, available studies have mainly investigated circulating immune mediators, whereas the role of immune cells remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to test whether leukocyte subsets are associated with NCV.Research design and methodsThis cross-sectional study analyzed data from 850 individuals (of whom 252 and 118 had type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes, respectively) of the Maastricht Study. NCV was measured in the peroneal and tibial motor nerves and the sural sensory nerve and summed to calculate a standardized NCV sum score. Associations between percentages of leukocyte subsets and NCV sum scores were estimated using linear regression models adjusted for demographic, lifestyle, metabolic and clinical covariates.ResultsAfter adjustment for covariates, higher percentages of basophils and CD4+ T cells were associated with lower NCV (p=0.014 and p=0.005, respectively). The percentage of CD8+ T cells was positively associated with NCV (p=0.022). These associations were not modified by glucose metabolism status (all pinteraction >0.05). No associations were found for monocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes, total T cells, Treg cells and B cells.ConclusionsThe associations of basophils, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells with NCV suggest that cell types from both innate and adaptive immunity may be implicated in the development of DSPN.

Serum neurofilament light chain: a novel biomarker for early diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy

“…We constructed an ‘MNCV sum score’ based on MNCVs, an ‘SNCV sum score’ based on SNCVs, and a ‘total NCV sum score’ based on MNCVs, SNCVs and SNAPs. The sum scores combine information about the NCVs of different nerves by giving equal weight to each nerve, allowing for a more comprehensive assessment of nerve function in an individual [ 39 , 40 ]. Primary analyses addressing a pre-planned hypothesis on NFL with primary and secondary exploratory endpoints were not adjusted for multiple testing.…”

Circulating and adipose tissue immune cells in tissue‐specific insulin resistance in humans with overweight and obesity

“…The gating strategies for flow cytometry of whole blood and aSAT are reported in Supporting Information Figures S1 and S2, respectively. The antibodies and gating strategy for flow cytometry for the Maastricht Study were similar, as reported elsewhere [20]. All samples were measured with a FACS-Canto II (BD Biosciences) and analyzed with FACSdiva software (BD Biosciences).…”

Cutaneous changes in diabetic patients: Primed for aberrant healing?

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