
Scientists from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom already knew that diabetes could worsen a person’s tuberculosis (TB) symptoms. However, they were not aware that the reversal was also true; people who have undiagnosed or untreated TB are at risk of developing diabetes, or another metabolic disease. The breakthrough is part of a new paper published in PLoSPathogens.
“Our paper changes the focus from diabetes making TB worse to the possibility that late diagnosis of TB can contribute to disruption of glucose metabolism, insulin resistance and therefore can promote progress towards diabetes in those that are susceptible,” said Andrea M. Cooper, PhD, professor of cellular immunology, in a news release.
The scientists’ goal was to impart knowledge that could be used to improve TB vaccines, which are predominantly given to infants and young children to help prevent severe infections. They also hope to find out more about how undiagnosed TB impacts human health.
The discovery will permit researchers to define the molecular pathways by which the immune response changes liver metabolism, and thereby allow them to develop targeted interventions.
“As diabetes compromises drug treatment, our paper also supports the idea that metabolic screening should be involved in any drug or vaccine trials,” said Dr. Cooper, who is also part of the Leicester Tuberculosis Research Group (LTBRG).
The research group used lab models of pulmonary TB to examine changes that occurred in the liver during early stages of infection. It found a triggered immune response within the liver cells and altered glucose metabolism.
The researchers, led by primary author, Mrinal K. Das, PhD, reanalyzed human metabolic data and observed disruption in liver glucose metabolism when undiagnosed or asymptomatic infection progressed to tuberculosis.
“Our future aim is to define the molecular pathways by which the immune response is changing liver metabolism, allowing us to potentially create targeted interventions,” said Dr. Cooper. “We will also be investigating how latent TB (which is infection with the bacterial agent of TB without significant symptoms) might be impacting metabolic health in humans.”