Effect of 3 Months of Doxazosin Therapy on T-Cell Subsets in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Doxazosin, an α1-adrenergic receptor inhibitor, is commonly administered to patients with type 2 diabetes, hypertension and nephropathy. The impact of 3 months' doxazosin therapy on the prevalence of activated and regulatory T lymphocytes was analysed in this pilot study of men with type 2 diabetes ( n = 10) who received doxazosin 4 mg/day in addition to their ongoing therapy. The prevalence of CD4+, CD8+, CD25+ and CD69+ cells at baseline and after 3 months of add-on therapy was determined. The prevalence of regulatory T-cells was detected by two different approaches: forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) positivity; and the number of CD4+CD25+high cells. During 3 months of doxazosin therapy, patients' blood pressure, blood glucose control and lipid profiles all significantly improved. Simultaneously, the prevalence of activated T-cells (CD4+CD69+ and CD8+CD69+ cells) decreased, whereas that of regulatory T-cells increased. These results indicate an immunomodulatory action of doxazosin in type 2 diabetic patients.