Viral infections, immunological reactions and genetic factors - Induced type 1 diabetes mellitus in erbil city

Abstract
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is on the increase in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. It has been demonstrated that viral infection induces T1DM by destruction of beta cells through direct invasion or autoimmune reactions. Genetic factors also lead to immune disorders which induce T1DM. Despite the reports on effects of viral infection and autoimmune disturbance in the presence of HLA genes, there is no known report that shows the relationship between them in the Kurdish race. This study focused on how the relationship between viral infections, immunological reactions and genetic factors induces T1DM. Therefore, three viruses (cytomegalovirus, rubella and Coxsackie-B virus), two genes (Human Leukocyte Antigen-DR3, DR4), and six immunological parameters, including (T-helper ‘CD4’, T-cytotoxic ‘CD8’, Interleukin ‘IL-4 and 10, anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase ‘GAD’ Ab. and anti-insulin receptor ‘IR’ antibody, were studied to evaluate their relationship with T1DM. The study adopted a quantitative approach by interviewing 230 subjects (122 females and 108 males) of T1DM patients and another 130 nondiabetic individuals as a control group for collecting blood samples along with personal and family information related to this study. This study reveals that T1DM is more common among children especially those who consume cow’s milk during infancy and who have a family history of diabetes. The finding also revealed an interaction between the following three factors: immune system, viral infections and genetic factors, and concludes that they can induce T1DM. It was also show that viral infections recorded positive results among patients; for CMV it was 84%, rubella 44% and CSV 25%. However, for the genetic study positive results for HLA-DR3, HLA-DR4 and both together were recorded as 61 %, 73% and 56%, respectively. For immunological parameters, the mean of anti-GAD Ab, anti-IR Ab, IL-4, IL-10 and the ratio of CD4:CD8 showed significant differences between patients and the control group at p < 0.05. It is recommended that estimates of islet cell, insulin and tyrosine phosphatase-like protein autoantibodies, IL-6 and IL-17, detection of HCV, HBV, mumps and HLA-DQ, viruses among T1DM patients and paediatric cases be categorized and separated from adult cases.
Description
Thesis (PhD. (Bioscience and Health Sciences))
Keywords
Biosciences and medical engineering
Citation