Plasma interleukin‐22 levels are associated with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in the Han Chinese population

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between plasma interleukin‐22 (IL‐22) levels and prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, and search the relevance between plasma concentrations of IL‐22 and selected diabetes risk factors in Chinese people. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Han Chinese origin men and women participants were recruited in our study during a conventional medical checkup. Fasting plasma IL‐22 levels were detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, and their relevance with selected diabetes risk factors was explored. Multiple logistic regression analysis was carried out to assess the odds ratio of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and type 2 diabetes according to plasma IL‐22 level. RESULTS: Compared with normal glucose participants (250 pg/mL [interquartile range 154–901]), the plasma IL‐22 levels in IFG participants (185 pg/mL [interquartile range 145–414]) and type 2 diabetes participants (162 pg/mL [interquartile range 128–266]) were significantly lower (P < 0.05, P < 0.001, respectively). Correlation analysis showed that plasma concentrations of IL‐22 were negatively associated with some diabetes risk factors, including body mass index, glucose, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and triglyceride. Furthermore, the plasma concentrations of IL‐22 showed a highly significant association with IFG and type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: In Chinese subjects, the plasma concentration of IL‐22 is profoundly associated with susceptibility to IFG and type 2 diabetes, and decreased plasma IL‐22 level is a potential trigger of IFG and type 2 diabetes.