Systemic low-grade inflammation in siblings of type 2 diabetic patients

Chronic low-grade inflammation is involved in the development of diabetes mellitus type 2 (DMT2). Because
of genetic inheritance, first-degree relatives of DMT2 patients are at increased risk of developing this metabolic disorder.
We aimed to investigate the association of inflammation in the development of DMT2 in siblings of DMT2 patients. Twenty
seven DMT2 patients and 27 healthy individuals without a family history of DMT2 were enrolled. Plasma levels of the
high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumour necrosis factor-� (TNF-�), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and fibrinogen (FIB),
as inflammatory factors were assessed in all individuals. Levels of hs-CRP, TNF-�, IL-6, and FIB were significantly higher
in DMT2 patients than in their siblings. Furthermore, all marker levels were found to be significantly higher in the siblings
group than in healthy controls. Siblings of DMT2 patients are then at higher risk for DMT2 than healthy controls. Systemic
inflammatory abnormalities may play an important role in the development of diabetes mellitus in siblings via endothelial
dysfunction