In vitro TNF-alpha and IL-6 production by adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients evaluated according to the metabolic control.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cell cultured monocytes obtained from 24 type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients presenting inadequate (IN) or adequate (AD) metabolic control, and in 21 healthy individuals paired to patients for sex and age. The TNF-alpha levels in stimulated cultures of diabetic patients were similar to healthy individuals, and type 1 diabetic patients showed increased IL-6 supernatant levels. The tendency toward increased TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels was observed with metabolic control of type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients, suggesting that the control of diabetes improves the capacity of activation and maintenance of the proinflammatory immune response.