Evaluation of Interleukin-23 and <i>JAKs/STATs/SOCSs/ROR-γt</i> Expression in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Treated With or Without Sitagliptin

Abstract

The production of interleukin-23 (IL-23) and the expression levels of related genes were evaluated in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. The correlations between them were also determined. Thirty patients without sitagliptin (sitagliptin negative; SN), 30 patients with sitagliptin (sitagliptin positive; SP), and 30 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. The level of IL-23 in the supernatant of anti CD3-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expressions of <i>IL-23</i>, <i>JAK1/JAK2/TYK2</i>, <i>STAT1/STAT3</i>, <i>ROR-γt</i>, and <i>SOCS1/SOCS3</i> in PBMCs were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The production of IL-23 and the expressions of <i>IL-23</i>, <i>JAK2</i>, <i>STAT3</i>, and <i>ROR-γt</i> were observed to be enhanced in SN patients versus HCs, while the levels were decreased in SP patients versus SN patients (<i>P</i> < 0.05). <i>SOCS1</i> and <i>SOCS3</i> expressions were lower in SN patients than HCs, and their expressions were elevated in SP patients versus SN patients (<i>P</i> < 0.05). In SN patients, positive correlations between the IL-23 with fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c were observed, and <i>JAK2/STAT3/ROR-γt</i> were positively correlated with IL-23. <i>JAK2</i>, <i>STAT3</i>, and <i>ROR-γt</i> were positively related to each other and were negatively related to <i>SOCS3</i>. Enhanced <i>IL-23/JAK2/STAT3/ROR-γt</i> and reduced <i>SOCS1/SOCS3</i> were found in SN patients. Sitagliptin may regulate the IL-23 and related gene expression.