Elevated levels of peripheral blood CD14brightCD16+ and CD14dimCD16+ monocytes may contribute to the development of retinopathy in patients with juvenile onset type 1 diabetes

The study aimed to analyze the CD14^brightCD16⁺ and CD14^dimCD16⁺ monocyte subsets in juvenile‐onset complication‐free diabetes mellitus type 1 in the context of their association with microvascular complications. 61 children with type 1 diabetes and 30 healthy individuals were enrolled in a study. CD14^brightCD16⁺ and CD14^dimCD16⁺ monocytes were quantified in peripheral blood by means of flow cytometry. At the time of sampling blood glucose concentration was taken along with biochemical measurement of renal function, CRP and glycosylated hemoglobin. The Spearman's correlations were used to compare the relationship between CD16⁺ monocyte subsets and the clinical parameters that can predict the development of microangiopathies. The flow cytometric analysis of monocyte subsets in peripheral blood of analyzed subjects revealed that the numbers of CD14^brightCD16⁺ and CD14^dimCD16⁺ monocytes were significantly higher in patients with type 1 diabetes than in the healthy individuals. As to the relationship between CD16⁺ monocyte subsets and the clinical parameters that can predict development of microangiopathies, it was shown that both CD16⁺ subsets were associated with increased risk of retinopathy development, defined as retinopathy development value. Elevated levels of intermediate CD14^brightCD16⁺ and non‐classical CD14^dimCD16⁺ monocytes predict development of diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 1 diabetes.