Effect of long-term Helicobacter felis infection in a mouse model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes.
BACKGROUND
We previously REPORTED that mice with diabetes and short-term Helicobacter felis infection had an increase in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Here we report the effect of long-term infection.


METHODS
Six-week-old C57BL/6 mice were injected with streptozotocin to induce diabetes and started on daily insulin. Following streptozotocin injection, animals were paired according to their HbA1c values and randomized to orally receive either H. felis or culture medium alone. Weight and HbA1c were monitored monthly for 6 months.


RESULTS
Thirty animals corresponding to 15 pairs were included in the study. H. felis-infected diabetic mice developed significantly more gastritis than uninfected animals. Sixteen mice died during the observation period. As compared to uninfected animals, infected mice died more frequently (40% versus 67%, p = .14) and earlier (160 versus 61 days, p = .20); both variables combined showed that H. felis infection significantly decreased the chances of survival during the study period (p = .045). In addition, infected mice showed a trend for higher increase in their HbA1c (0.97 +/- 2.5% versus - 0.22 +/- 3.0%; p = .21) and lower weight gain (2.0 +/- 3.4 g versus 2.9 +/- 2.0 g; p = .15) than uninfected mice.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term H. felis infection had a deleterious effect in mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes resulting in increased mortality. If the same phenomenon occurs in humans this could lead to interventions to improve the long-term outcome of patients with diabetes.
Spinetti
Nelson
N
Department of Pediatrics, Lousiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Zavala-Spinetti
Livania
L
Hempe
James
J
Correa
Hernán
H
Bégué
Rodolfo E
RE
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D044922:Helicobacter felis / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011897:Random Allocation; D013997:Time Factors
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin