No effect of yeast-like fungi on lipid metabolism and vascular endothelial growth factor level in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

In view of the currently available data hyperglycaemia is known to be the main factor that contributes to the development of angiopathic complications in diabetes [1‐3]. Metabolic control of diabetes mellitus is one of the most important factors, but not the only one, that affects the risk of long-term angiopathic complications [4‐7]. Several proofs of evidence indicates that the risk of long-term diabetic complications is increased when hyperglycaemia is accompanied by lipid metabolism disorders and high blood pressure values [3, 6, 8]. In our previous studies we showed a correlation between systolic blood pressure values and serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) [8]. VEGF is a potent mitogenic and chemotactic factor for endothelial cells, thereby stimulating angiogenesis. VEGF can increase vascular permeability, favour oedema and enhance migration of cells from the circulating blood into the sites of inflammation. VEGF is an important factor that triggers inflammatory processes in chronic diseases [9].

Prevention of long-term complications is among the most important treatment goals in T1DM patients. All patients with T1DM have to be monitored for HbA1c levels, lipid metabolism parameters, blood pressure and other known risk factors of long-term vascular complications [5, 10, 11]. Moreover, it must be noticed that treatment of T1DM children and adolescents has significantly changed in Poland and all over the world during the last decade [12‐14]. First of all new insulin therapy technologies have been developed and implemented, such as personal insulin pumps integrated with continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGM) [14, 15]. Data from clinical trials and immunological studies point at the very important role of even minor blood glucose fluctuations in the development of both micro- and macrovascular complications [15‐17].

Moreover the role of yeast-like fungi in the course of diabetes has not been fully elucidated [18‐20]. Antigens found in the human body trigger mechanisms of the innate and adaptive immune reactions, closely related to each other. On one hand they can result in elimination of the causative factor, but on the other hand they can lead to systemic disorders or even death [21, 22]. Efforts are being made by our team and other researchers to investigate the yeast-like fungus virulence and its sequelae in T1DM patients [20, 21, 23]. However proving the causal relationship between infections and development of complications in T1DM patients remains a big challenge. In many cases the main problem involves a long latency time between exposure to the yeast-like fungus antigen and the occurrence of clinical signs and symptoms of long-term angiopathic complications [22]. Therefore the aim of our current study was to investigate VEGF levels in the context of selected lipid metabolism parameters and the amount of yeast-like fungi colonizing the alimentary tract of T1DM children and adolescents.

The study involved 45 adolescent patients (16 girls and 29 boys) with T1DM. Diabetes was diagnosed according to the Polish Diabetes Association guidelines which correspond with the guidelines of the WHO [12, 24]. All T1DM patients were free of micro- and macrovascular complications. T1DM children and their parents/legal guardians were provided comprehensive care by diabetes treatment team composed of diabetologist, nurse, dietician, psychologist, physiotherapist and educator. In the study sample 33 T1DM patients were administered insulin pump therapy and 12 T1DM patients were administered multiple daily injections with insulin pen devices. Blood glucose levels were measured by continous glicemic monitoring systems (CGMS) using an electrode compatible with “Guardian” device or Medtronic insulin pump (Medtronic Minimed, Northridge, CA). Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) was measured with an immunoturbidometric method using a Unimate 3 set (Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Basel, Switzerland). Reference values for healthy people estimated by the local laboratory ranged from 4.3 to 5.7% (35–42 mmol/mol). The urinary albumin was measured by immunoturbidometric assay using Tina-quant kit (Boehringer Mannheim GmbH, Germany). Microalbuminuria was diagnosed when in at least two out of three urine samples daily albumin excretion was between 30 and 300 mg/24 h, collected within 6 months from patients with well controlled diabetes with no clinical or laboratory signs of ketoacidosis. Serum total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels were assayed by the ARCHITECT cSystem and AEROSET, Abbott, Wiesbaden, Germany. Lipid profile was assessed according to the value [25]. Blood pressure was measured using a 24-h blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) method. Various sizes of the cuff were used according to age, weight and arm circumference of the studied subjects. All the ABPM results, which had less than 80% of technically correct measurements were excluded from the study. Threshold values defining range of normal blood pressure values, pre-hypertension and hypertension state were according to the centile tables which took into the consideration the gender, age and height centile. Arterial hypertension was diagnosed when mean ABPM values were above the 95th centile for the corresponding age, gender and height on at least three separate measurements [26].

In order to enumerate yeast-like fungal colonies in 1 g faeces, quantitative cultures on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar were used. The tested materials were fresh faecal samples from T1DM children and healthy control subjects. The samples were collected to sterile containers and subjected to further test procedures. Faecal suspensions in normal saline in serial dilutions 1:10, 1:100, 1:1000, 1:10,000 were prepared and incubated for 72 h at 37 °C. According to the number of colony forming units grown in 1 g faeces the following index values for the fungus growth were established: from 0 to 10^³ CFU/g and from more than 10^³ to 10^⁶ CFU/g.

Patients with T1DM and their matched controls were examined by a pediatrician on the day of collection of the faecal samples. Medical history was taken and physical examination was performed and did not reveal any gastrointestinal complaints in either study group. Moreover the study participants had not been receiving antibiotics for up to 3 months prior participation to the study. Children with symptoms of infection or systemic somatic illness other than diabetes mellitus were excluded from the study. The study patients with T1DM were divided into two subgroups: with duration of diabetes ≤5 years and those with disease duration >5 years.

Control group consisted of 27 healthy children and adolescents, age and BMI matched (13 girls and 14 boys).

Written informed consent was obtained from all children and adolescents participating in the study, or from their parent or guardian. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Medical University of Gdańsk (no NKBBN/125/2014) and the investigation was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki as revised in 1996.

Our previous studies and studies by other authors have shown that long-term diabetic complications occur after 5 years of the disease [1, 4, 8]. Therefore for the purpose of analyses the study patients with T1DM were divided into two subgroups: patients with duration of diabetes ≤5 years and those with disease duration >5 years. In our study the subgroup of T1DM children and adolescents with duration of diabetes ≤5 years and HbA1c level (7.0 + 1.2%) did not show any significant differences in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels versus T1DM patients with disease duration >5 years and HbA1c (8.1 + 0.9%). Higher HDL cholesterol levels were seen in T1DM children with disease duration <5 years and HbA1c = 7.0 + 1.2% versus T1DM patients with disease duration >5 years and HbA1c = 8.1 + 0.9%. Currently available data on lipid metabolism in T1DM patients are not unanimous [6, 28‐30]. Recently, unexpected results have been presented by Klein et al., who studied 730 patients for 24 years, each patient having been tested four times, and did not show any relationship between increased serum levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein and frequency of macular oedema or diabetic retinopathy severity in T1DM patients [28]. In other studies the authors pointed at lipid profile abnormalities in patients with disease duration longer than 5 years, with poor metabolic control and cardiovascular complications [6, 29, 30].

In our study no significant differences in serum levels of VEGF were detected in patients with T1DM and duration of diabetes ≤5 years versus T1DM patients with disease duration of >5 years. In T1DM children a statistically insignificant correlation was seen between VEGF levels and duration of diabetes, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels. This lack of correlation between VEGF serum levels and lipid metabolism or HbA1c levels can be partly explained by improved methods of insulin therapy in T1DM patients and partly by anti-inflammatory effects of HDL cholesterol.

Our results are in agreement with other authors who found a negative correlation between serum VEGF, CRP and HDL cholesterol levels in T1DM insulin pump patients [31]. The authors suggested that insulin pump therapy could result in considerably higher HDL cholesterol levels which could reduce both CRP and VEGF levels. The continuous insulin infusion with insulin pump in T1DM patients is likely to prevent atherosclerosis progression, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease [31]. Admittedly, our previous studies and studies conducted by other authors showed statistically significantly higher serum VEGF levels in children and adolescents with T1DM [32‐35]. However the studied group of T1DM children and adolescents was older, showed poor metabolic control and had clinically overt diabetic retinopathy (DR), nephropathy and arterial hypertension [8, 32‐35]. In our present study T1DM patients were free of long-term diabetic complications and had shorter history of diabetes and lower HbA1c levels.

In the end step of the study the effect of yeast-like fungi on lipid profile and VEGF levels was investigated. In the studied group of T1DM children and adolescents with the amount of yeast-like fungi 10^³ CFU/g significantly lower HbA1c levels were seen as well as lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and lower serum VEGF levels versus T1DM patients with the amount of yeast like fungi colonizing the alimentary tract 10^⁶ CFU/g. We suggest, that in patients with a short history of diabetes of <5 years and good metabolic control as well as normal lipid profile the prevalence of the yeast-like fungi in the digestive tract is not significantly increased. This could be related to the fact that children had not complained of any gastrointestinal problems and had not been treated with any antibiotics for up to 3 months prior to their faecal sample collection. What’s more, about 75% of T1DM patients were administered insulin therapy with insulin pumps integrated with continuous glucose monitoring systems. It must be emphasized that children with T1DM are currently achieving HbA1c target levels more and more frequently thanks to the use of personal insulin pumps integrated with continuous glucose monitoring systems [13‐15]. T1DM children and their parents and/or legal guardians were provided with comprehensive care educator. Education motivates patients to respond to the challenges of insulin therapy, eliminates stress and prevents anxiety about the future [10].

Our study has shown no relationship between serum VEGF levels and lipid metabolism and no influence of yeast-like fungi on VEGF levels in T1DM patients. Comprehensive treatment of T1DM patients and intensive insulin therapy with help of personal insulin pumps can reduce or prevent the development of long-term diabetic complications. Further studies in this field are needed.