A Study on the Relationship between TNF-α Level and Insulin Resistance in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Objective To study the relationship between serum level of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods by using the homeostasis model assessment (Homa-R), 20 patients with insulin resistance(IR group) and 20 patients with non-insulin resistance(NIR group) were selected in this study, and 20 age and BMI-matched healthy subjects were also recruited as control group. Serum levels of insulin, TNF-α, lipids, apolipoprotein and glucose were measured after overnight fasting. Results The serum level of TNF-α was significantly higher in the patients of IR group than that in the patients of NIR group and the subjects of control group(P0 05), and fasting serum insulin and Homa-R were also significantly higher in the patients of IR group than those in the patients of NIR group and the subjects of control group(P0 01). There were not significant differences in mean values of BMI, age, lipids, apolipoprotein and blood pressure among the 3 groups. Conclusion The serum level of TNF-α was related with insulin resistance and involved in the pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes, and it may serve as an index to evaluate insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes.