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Int J Med Sci 2023; 20(5):652-662. doi:10.7150/ijms.83317 This issue Cite

Research Paper

Dysfunction of circulating CD3+CD56+ NKT-like cells in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Ling Tang, Hui Wang, Kangli Cao, Cairui Xu, Along Ma, Meijuan Zheng, Yuanhong Xu✉, Min Zhang✉

Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China

✉ Corresponding authors: Yuanhong Xu; e-mail: xyhong1964com; Min Zhang; e-mail: zhangmin6912com

Citation:
Tang L, Wang H, Cao K, Xu C, Ma A, Zheng M, Xu Y, Zhang M. Dysfunction of circulating CD3+CD56+ NKT-like cells in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Int J Med Sci 2023; 20(5):652-662. doi:10.7150/ijms.83317. https://www.medsci.org/v20p0652.htm
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Abstract

Graphic abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with increased incidence and mortality of many cancers and infectious diseases. CD3+CD56+ NKT-like cells play pivotal roles in tumor surveillance and infection control. However, little is known about potential alterations in circulating NKT-like cells in T2DM patients. In this study, we found that the frequency and absolute counts of circulating NKT-like cells were significantly lower in patients with T2DM compared to healthy volunteers. Moreover, in T2DM patients, NKT-like cells were impaired in their production of IFN-γ and TNF-α as well as degranulation capacity. The expression of activating receptor NKG2D was markedly decreased on NKT-like cells in T2DM patients, while the expression of inhibitory receptors Tim-3 and LAG-3 was upregulated. In detail, Tim-3+NKT-like cells expressed higher LAG-3 and less IFN-γ and TNF-α compared to Tim-3-NKT-like cells. Importantly, we further found that the expression of Tim-3 in NKT-like cells from T2DM patients correlated positively with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, as well as with diabetes duration. In conclusion, these results indicate that NKT-like cells from T2DM patients display an exhausted phenotype and reduced functionality. Moreover, Tim-3 expression on NKT-like cells likely serves a novel biomarker for duration of T2DM.

Keywords: type 2 diabetes mellitus, NKT-like cells, Tim-3, dysfunction

Citation styles

APA
Tang, L., Wang, H., Cao, K., Xu, C., Ma, A., Zheng, M., Xu, Y., Zhang, M. (2023). Dysfunction of circulating CD3+CD56+ NKT-like cells in type 2 diabetes mellitus. International Journal of Medical Sciences, 20(5), 652-662. https://doi.org/10.7150/ijms.83317.

ACS
Tang, L.; Wang, H.; Cao, K.; Xu, C.; Ma, A.; Zheng, M.; Xu, Y.; Zhang, M. Dysfunction of circulating CD3+CD56+ NKT-like cells in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Int. J. Med. Sci. 2023, 20 (5), 652-662. DOI: 10.7150/ijms.83317.

NLM
Tang L, Wang H, Cao K, Xu C, Ma A, Zheng M, Xu Y, Zhang M. Dysfunction of circulating CD3+CD56+ NKT-like cells in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Int J Med Sci 2023; 20(5):652-662. doi:10.7150/ijms.83317. https://www.medsci.org/v20p0652.htm

CSE
Tang L, Wang H, Cao K, Xu C, Ma A, Zheng M, Xu Y, Zhang M. 2023. Dysfunction of circulating CD3+CD56+ NKT-like cells in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Int J Med Sci. 20(5):652-662.

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