Immunoendocrine network under conditions of diabetes-filariasis co-morbidity DMLF6.

Childhood exposure to filariasis can confer significant protection against diabetes which is called as "Metabolic Hygiene Hypothesis". However, the effect of diabetes on anti-filarial immunity is not much studied. In the present study, the role of diabetes on systemic anti-filarial immunity was elucidated. Plasma levels of innate immune cytokines, adaptive immune cytokines, chemokines, hormones and growth factors were quantified by ELISA; Lipid and protein peroxidation and nitrite levels were quantified by spectrophotometry; Peripheral Tregs and exhausted T-cells were quantified by flowcytometry; FoxP3 expression was quantified by qRT-PCR. Anti-filarial immunity was significantly associated with elevated levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10, IL-1Ra, DEF-A1, IL-12, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-33, IL-9, IL-23, IL-17, IL-8, IP-10, SDF-1, MCP-1 and RANTES and decreased levels of IL-27, IL-4, leptin and FGF-21. Lipid peroxidation, nitrite levels and exhausted T cells were also increased. Chronic diabetes significantly reduced IL-1β, IL-1Ra, DEF-A1 and IL-8 and lipid peroxidation, and increased VEGF levels in DM-LF group. Overall, diabetes was found to downregulate a few critical innate immune components, of anti-filarial immunity, that can promote chronic pathology in LF + subjects.