Big clumps of E. coli (red) infecting diabetic mouse bladder. Credit: Soumitra Mohanty
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are associated with reduced immunity and persistent infections. Scientists at Karolinska Institute in Sweden have actually found that the body immune system of people with diabetes has lower levels of the antimicrobial peptide psoriasin. This compromises the urinary bladders cell barrier, increasing the risk of urinary tract infection.
Diabetes is a common illness that affects health in many ways. It arises from an absence of insulin and/or decreased insulin action. Insulin is a hormone that manages glucose (sugar) and therefore energy to the cells. When an individual has type 1 diabetes, the body stops producing insulin, while in type 2 diabetes, the cells have ended up being less conscious insulin, which adds to high blood glucose levels.
One effect of diabetes is that it jeopardizes the natural immune system. This leaves lots of people with increased vulnerability to routine infections, such as urinary system infections (UTI) s brought on by E. coli germs. In people with diabetes, these are more likely to cause basic blood poisoning (sepsis) coming from the urinary tract.
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are associated with decreased immunity and persistent infections. Scientists at Karolinska Institute in Sweden have found that the immune system of individuals with diabetes has lower levels of the antimicrobial peptide psoriasin. When a person has type 1 diabetes, the body stops producing insulin, while in type 2 diabetes, the cells have become less sensitive to insulin, which contributes to high blood glucose levels.
“People with diabetes have lower levels of psoriasin, which deteriorates the cells protective barrier function and increases the threat of bladder infection.”
” We now plan to probe much deeper into the hidden systems of infections in individuals with diabetes,” says the studys lead author Soumitra Mohanty.
An endogenous antibiotic
Researchers at Karolinska Institute have now investigated whether glucose levels in individuals with diabetes (type 1, type 2, or pre-diabetes) are related to psoriasin, an endogenous antibiotic that is a part of the natural immune system. Their research study was released today (September 20) in the journal Nature Communications.
Utilizing urine, urinary bladder cells, and blood serum samples from clients, the investigators evaluated levels of psoriasin and other peptides needed for making sure that the bladder mucosa remains undamaged and safeguards against infection. The outcomes were then validated in mice and urinary bladder cells with and without infection.
” We found that high glucose concentrations lower the levels of the antimicrobial peptide psoriasin, while insulin has no result,” says Annelie Brauner. She led the study and is a professor at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute. “People with diabetes have lower levels of psoriasin, which weakens the cells protective barrier function and increases the threat of bladder infection.”
Oestrogen therapy minimized bacterial population
Professor Brauners research group has formerly revealed that treatment with estrogen brings back the protective function of bladder cells in mice and people and consequently helps to manage the immune action to a UTI. The scientists, therefore, evaluated how estrogen treatment affects contaminated cells exposed to high glucose concentrations. They found that the treatment increased levels of psoriasin and minimized bacterial populations, suggesting that the treatment might have a result likewise among patients with diabetes.
” We now prepare to probe much deeper into the underlying mechanisms of infections in people with diabetes,” says the studys lead author Soumitra Mohanty. He is a researcher in the exact same department at Karolinska Institute. “The supreme goal is to lower the risk of infection in this growing patient group.”
Referral: “Diabetes downregulates the antimicrobial peptide psoriasin and increases E. coli burden in the urinary bladder” by Soumitra Mohanty, Witchuda Kamolvit, Andrea Scheffschick, Anneli Björklund, Jonas Tovi, Alexander Espinosa, Kerstin Brismar, Thomas Nyström, Jens M. Schröder, Claes-Göran Östenson, Pontus Aspenström, Hanna Brauner and Annelie Brauner, 20 September 2022, Nature Communications.DOI: 10.1038/ s41467-022-32636-y.
The study was carried out in cooperation with the Karolinska University Hospital, Region Stockholm, Capio and Uppsala University in Sweden, and Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein in Germany. It was largely financed by the Olle Engkvist Foundation, Region Stockholm (ALF financing), the KI Research Foundation, the Swedish Society of Medicine, the Swedish Society for Medical Research (SSMF), the Clas Groschinsky Memorial Foundation, the Åke Wiberg Foundation and the Magnus Bergvall Foundation. There are no reported disputes of interest.