EFFECTS OF DIABETES AND Plasmodium berghei INFECTION ON SOME IMMUNE AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN BALB/c MICE

Abstract

Diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose (or blood sugar), which leads over time to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by protozoan parasites of the Plasmodium species that are transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Diabetes and Malaria are prevalent diseases in Nigeria. Malaria has been documented to be more common in diabetes, therefore it is essential to investigate the effects of the co-morbid conditions on immune and biochemical parameters. Fifty- four male BALB/C mice were used in this study. The mice were grouped into eight groups, Group 1 (Normal control), Group 2 (Malaria only), Group 3 (Diabetes only), Group 4 (Diabetes + Malaria), Group 5 (Malaria + AL), Group 6 (Diabetes + MTF), Group 7 (Malaria + Diabetes + MTF) and Group 8 (Malaria + Diabetes + MTF + AL). Diabetes was induced using Streptozotocin (40 mg/kg) for 5 consecutive days while malaria was established by inoculating each mice with 0.2 mL of Plasmodium berghei. 200 mg/kg body weight of Metformin and 1.14/ 6.86 mg/kg body weight of Artemether Lumefantrine were used for treatment of diabetes and malaria respectively. This study showed a significant decrease in creatinine concentration of infected groups with treatment when compared to negative control groups. The results reveal that there was no significance in the Urea Concentration in the Control Groups (Diabetes Only, Malaria Only, Malaria + Diabetes Only) when compared across all other groups. The result of serum levels of TNF –α conducted in experimental mice revealed that there is no significant increase in the median concentration of TNF –α across all the groups when compared. The result of serum levels of interleukin-6 conducted in experimental mice revealed that there was a significant increase in IL-6 Concentration (p=0.046) in group 4 (Malaria + Diabetes Only) when compared with the Normal Control. The findings of this study provides evidence for increased risk for P. berghei infection in Diabetes and also showed that Metformin does not have a prophylactic effect on malaria treatment.