Abstract

Musa, B. O. P Onyemelukwe, G.C, Hambolu, J. O, Bakari, A.G and Anumah, F.E

Immune modulation accompanying metabolic dysfunction can adversely affect outcome of a non infectious disease such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Peripheral T lymphocyte subsets were analyzed with monoclonal antibodies via manual counting by the indirect immunofluorescence method, in type 2 Diabetes mellitus patients in DKA, controlled T2DM patients as well as normal healthy controls (NHC).There was a significant decrease in CD4+ T cells alongside a non significant increase in CD8+ T cells in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) compared to controlled T2DM patients and normal healthy controls. Ratio of CD4/CD8+ T cells was also lowest in DKA. These T cell changes in patients with DKA reflect an abnormal immunoregulatory mechanism in parallel with an impaired metabolic process and may lead to enhanced beta cell damage and increased susceptibility to DKA crisis in T2DM patients.