NIH-NIAID-International Center for Excellence in Research, Chennai, India.
Infectious Diseases, Dignity Health, Chandler, Arizona, United States of America.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2024 Apr 2;18(4):e0012048. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012048. eCollection 2024 Apr.
Numerous studies indicate a potential protective role of helminths in diabetes mellitus (DM) progression. The complement system, vital for host defense, plays a crucial role in tissue homeostasis and immune surveillance. Dysregulated complement activation is implicated in diabetic complications. We aimed to investigate the influence of the helminth, Strongyloides stercoralis (Ss) on complement activation in individuals with type 2 DM (T2D).
We assessed circulating levels of complement proteins (C1q, C2, C3, C4, C4b, C5, C5a, and MBL (Lectin)) and their regulatory components (Factor B, Factor D, Factor H, and Factor I) in individuals with T2D with (n = 60) or without concomitant Ss infection (n = 58). Additionally, we evaluated the impact of anthelmintic therapy on these parameters after 6 months in Ss-infected individuals (n = 60).
Ss+DM+ individuals demonstrated reduced levels of complement proteins (C1q, C4b, MBL (Lectin), C3, C5a, and C3b/iC3b) and complement regulatory proteins (Factor B and Factor D) compared to Ss-DM+ individuals. Following anthelmintic therapy, there was a partial reversal of these levels in Ss+DM+ individuals.
Our findings indicate that Ss infection reduces complement activation, potentially mitigating inflammatory processes in individuals with T2D. The study underscores the complex interplay between helminth infections, complement regulation, and diabetes mellitus, offering insights into potential therapeutic avenues.
大量研究表明，寄生虫可能对糖尿病（DM）的进展具有保护作用。补体系统对于宿主防御至关重要，在组织稳态和免疫监视中发挥关键作用。补体激活失调与糖尿病并发症有关。我们旨在研究寄生虫 Strongyloides stercoralis（Ss）对 2 型糖尿病（T2D）个体补体激活的影响。
我们评估了 T2D 患者（Ss+DM+：n=60；Ss-DM+：n=58）和无 Ss 感染的 T2D 患者（Ss-DM-：n=58）的循环补体蛋白（C1q、C2、C3、C4、C4b、C5、C5a 和 MBL（凝集素））及其调节成分（因子 B、因子 D、因子 H 和因子 I）的水平。此外，我们还评估了 6 个月后 Ss 感染患者（n=60）接受驱虫治疗对这些参数的影响。
与 Ss-DM+个体相比，Ss+DM+个体的补体蛋白（C1q、C4b、MBL（凝集素）、C3、C5a 和 C3b/iC3b）和补体调节蛋白（因子 B 和因子 D）水平降低。在接受驱虫治疗后，Ss+DM+个体的这些水平部分得到逆转。
我们的发现表明，Ss 感染会降低补体激活，从而可能减轻 T2D 患者的炎症过程。该研究强调了寄生虫感染、补体调节与糖尿病之间的复杂相互作用，为潜在的治疗途径提供了新的见解。
