The immune-opioid axis in prediabetes: predicting prediabetes with insulin resistance by plasma interleukin-10 and endomorphin-2 to kappa-opioid receptors ratio

Abstract Background Prediabetes is characterized by a hemoglobin A1c of 5.7–6.4% and fasting blood glucose 100–125 mg/dl. A high percentage prediabetes subjects develop type 2 diabetes mellitus in the next years. The effects opioid peptides their receptors, addition to immunological cytokines, on are not well understood. Therefore, molecular, physiological, clinical studies required link system, immune insulin resistance (IR) prediabetes. We hypothesize that (endomorphin-2 (EM2), β-endorphin (βEP)), receptors (µ-opioid (MOR) κ-opioid (KOR)), inflammatory cytokines (IL-6) anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10), affect IR parameters patients with Methods Sixty (prediabetes+IR) sixty without (prediabetes-IR), 58 controls, have participated study. IL-6, IL-10, EM2, βEP, MOR, KOR were measured ELISA technique. Results In general, most dyslipidemia. β-endorphin, endomorphin-2 higher subgroups than control group. system was activated an IR-dependent manner. Prediabetes+IR can be predicted increased levels EM2 combination IL-10 EM2/KOR good sensitivity specificity. Conclusion Opioid upregulated prediabetes, depending significance cytokines. intercorrelation between EOS, confirmed.