• Mohammed El-Mowafy, Abdelaziz Elgaml, Naglaa Abass, Amany A Mousa, and Mohamed N Amin.
• Microbiology & Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt.
• Afr Health Sci. 2022 Mar 1; 22 (1): 303-311.

BackgroundDiabetes is a serious health problem that results in high mortality rates worldwide. α-defensins are antimicrobial peptides of the innate immune system that contribute to inflammation. However, data on serum levels of α-defensin in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes are limited.ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the possible changes in α-defensin serum levels in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes and to investigate its correlation with relevant biomarkers.MethodologyAnalysis of serum α-defensin levels in 47 type 2 diabetics with diabetic neuropathy, 19 type 2 diabetics with no complications and 19 healthy control subjects by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was established. Furthermore, measurement of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) serum levels was performed, together with the lipid profile analysis.ResultsThe serum levels of α-defensin were higher in patients with and without diabetic neuropathy in comparison to control subjects. In addition, there was a significant correlation between α-defensin serum levels and AGEs and FBG serum levels as well as with the body mass index.Conclusionsα-defensins are significantly elevated in serum of type II diabetics, and correlate with AGEs serum levels indicating a crosstalk that may aggravate inflammation in type 2 diabetes.© 2022 El-Mowafy M et al.

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