Association Between Diabetes Mellitus and Allergic Diseases Sensitized by Different Allergens and the Potential Mechanism of Diabetes Mellitus Affecting Ovalbumin-Induced Allergic Rhinitis

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and allergic diseases caused by different allergens and explore the mechanism of DM in allergic rhinitis (AR) induced by ovalbumin (OVA).

Methods

We established linear regression models to examine the correlation of specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) and total immunoglobulin E (TIgE) with glycohemoglobin (A1c) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) in individuals allergic to different allergens by retrospectively analyzing the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database. Participants were classified into Allergy + DM and Allergy groups based on whether they had allergic disease and DM or only allergic disease. An AR mouse model was established using OVA. Mice were randomly assigned to the control, AR, diabetic (db), or db & AR group, with 6 mice in each group. The expression of GATA3, T-bet, and Foxp3 was detected using immunofluorescence and western blotting. Cytokines, FPG, A1c, and immunoglobulin in serum were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Results

Based on the database, the TIgE and SIgE levels in participants with perennial allergies were lower in the Allergy + DM group than in the Allergy group, whereas those in participants with food allergies were higher in the Allergy + DM group than in the Allergy group. TIgE was negatively correlated with FPG or A1c in participants with perennial allergies and positively correlated with FPG and A1c in participants with egg allergy (among food allergens). In mice, AR symptoms, eosinophilic infiltration, and OVA-induced IgE levels were more serious in the db & AR group than in the AR group. TIgE was positively correlated with FPG, and interleukin-2 (IL-2) was negatively correlated with FPG; this was most pronounced in db & AR mice. The expression of T-bet and Foxp3 in mice was negatively associated with A1c.

Conclusions

The effect of DM on allergic diseases is related to the type of allergen. Decreased IL-2, T-bet, and Foxp3 levels resulting from elevated FPG and A1c levels may be involved in the association between OVA-induced AR and DM.