Role of intestinal microflora (Lactobacillus Acidophilus)‎ in phagocytic function of leukocytes in type 2 diabetic patients

Abstract EN

The prevalence of obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes has steadily increased in the last decades.

In addition to the genetic and environmental factors, gut micro biota may play an important role in the modulation of intermediary phenotypes leading to metabolic disease.

Infection is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients.

Chronic hyperglycemia impairs host defense mechanism such as cell mediated immunity, polymorphonuclear leukocyte function, and antibody formation.

So we aimed to study the association between intestinal microflora (Lactobacillus acidophilus) count and phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in humans with type 2 diabetes.

The study included 20 type 2 diabetic patients with good glycemic control and 20 type 2 diabetic patients with poor glycemic control.

In addition, 20 normal healthy subjects were included as normal controls.

The fecal composition of L.

acidophilus was detected using de Man Rogosa Sharp agar followed by further confirmation using the polymerase chain reaction technique.

Phagocytic function of polymorph nuclear leukocytes was assessed using the phagocytosis index %.

Fecal L.

acidophilus count was significantly increased among uncontrolled diabetic patients, while the phagocytosis index % was significantly reduced among the same patients.

In uncontrolled diabetics, a significant positive correlation was observed between fecal L.

acidophilus count and HbA1c and a of other associated systemic illness or ICU admission were also excluded.

The Human Research Ethics Committee of Ain Shams University hospital approved this study and informed consent was obtained from each patient.

All of the patients underwent complete history taking and physical examination.

The body mass index (BMI) was calculated from the formula : weight (kg) / height (m)2.

All subjects were investigated for the following : complete blood picture, serum fasting glucose and serum 2 h postprandial glucose levels.

HbA1c levels (%) were measured at the time of enrollment using the fast ion exchange resin separation method (TECO Diagnostic, Lakeview Ave., Anaheim, CA, USA) and the methodology was done following the manufacturer’s instructions.