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 Show more
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. Show less
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common metabolic/ endocrine disorder seen predominantly in women in their reproductive age, which increases the risk of infertility, endometrial cancer and metabo Show more
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common metabolic/ endocrine disorder seen predominantly in women in their reproductive age, which increases the risk of infertility, endometrial cancer and metabolic disorders. IL-27 and IL-38 are recently discovered, novel anti-inflammatory cytokines whose role in immune-endocrine dysfunction seen in PCOS is largely unknown. In the present study, we quantified these two cytokines along with markers for meta-inflammation (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-1Ra, IL-10 and TGF-β) and hormonal dysregulation (insulin, leptin, adiponectin, FGF-21, testosterone and DHEA-S) in the serum of PCOS women (n=44), along with age matched controls (n=20), by ELISA. We quantified serum lipid peroxidation, protein peroxidation, and nitrite levels using spectrophotometry. PCOS women had significantly elevated levels of IL-27, IL-38 along with TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1Ra, IL-10, FGF-21 and adiponectin, and decreased levels of TGF-β, SDF-1 and leptin. While there is no significant difference with respect to redox markers, nitrite levels were significantly increased in PCOS cases. The increased circulating levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-27 and IL-38 under PCOS conditions warrant further investigation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on IL-38 levels in PCOS. Show less