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Journal of Obesity and Diabetes (ISSN: 2638-812X)

Research Article

Diffuse Lymph-Nodes Microangiopathy as Concurrent Cause of Immunodeficiency in Long-Term Insulin-Dependent Diabetic Patients

Pietro Muretto

DOI Number: https://doi.org/10.33805/2638-812X.113

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Published on July, 2019


Abstract

Immune abnormalities have been demonstrated in vitro models in genetic (type1) autoimmune (type 2) and metabolic (type 1 and type 2) Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM). However, the precise reason for increased susceptibility to frequent and protracted infections in diabetic patients is still unclear, despite a multitude of in vitro studies which have focused on the metabolic and functional modifications of immune cells Diabetes microangiopathy, which is a peculiar alteration of the disease, has been extensively described in the retina, renal glomeruli, skin, skeletal muscles, peripheral nerves, and other organs but not in lymph nodes. We report our histological and immunohistochemical observations in lymph-nodes removed in multiple sites during autopsy from four patients with long-term IDDM, severe lymphocytpenia and several infectious diseases during their life. The peculiar microangiopathic modifications made by presence of hyaline substance thickening basal membrane of thin vessels and capillaries appear concurrent with lymphodepletion of B and T cells dependent areas of lymph-nodes and with jointed marked reduction of Follicular Dendritic Reticulum Cells (FDRC). Indeed microangiopathy further compromise the traffic and diapedesis of T and B lymphocytes may prevent the transformation of endothelial cells into FDRC with severe immune failure of lymphoid follicles. The histological and immunohistochemical data in this study could provide additional insights into the complex problem of the immunodeficiency in diabetic patients.

Introduction

The susceptibility to frequent and protracted infections in diabetics is a well-known clinical pathologic event, following large blood vessel complications as atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, renal failure and cerebrovascular accidents as major causes of death [1]. However, the basis of immunodeficiency and susceptibility to infections in diabetes are not completely understood but pathophysiology studies seem include many mechanisms involved in the diabetes immunodepression as deficit of lymphocytes response, compromised function of neutrophil, humoral immunity disorders, lower secretion of cytokines, angiopathy, increased virulence of infectious microorganisms and apoptosis of leucocytes related to hyperglycemia.

Studies about modifications of lymph-nodes in diabetes patients have not been found in literature even if these diffuse small organs of the human body have specifically defensive functions against infection diseases.  It is well known that lymph-nodes are the prevalent site of lymphocytes production (B or T dependent) by which they represent one of the best regulating factors in immunity, but further it is necessary take present that their stromal structure if made of a very rich  network of capillaries and small vessels, which can easily highlighted by immunohistochemistry with surprising microscopic views, explaining in some way the microangiopathy localization in lymph-nodes.

These considerations took us to put under microscopic observations the lymph-nodes of four patients with long-term insulin­dependent diabetes mellitus, deceased for complications related to their main disease, with reported clinical marks of microangiopathy as acquired blindness, renal failure by glomerulosclerosis, renal necrotizing papillitis and diabetic retinopathy.

Patients and Methods

Case 1

A 43 year old male, Physician, was hospitalized in December 2014 with acute pneumonia, bilateral pleurisy, high fever and dyspnea. The patient progressed rapidly into a coma and died without receiving treatment. His relatives reported a history of IDDM diagnosed at 8 years of age. He was generally well compensated with insulin treatment until age 35 when signs of renal failure and hypertension appeared. Laboratory tests at that time showed a fasting plasma glucose of <180 mg/dl, elevate creatinina at 3 to 4 mg/dl, proteinuria, glycosuria and hypogammaglobulinemia.

At age 40 he was subjected to ocular surgery for diabetic retinopathy. Later, his temperament changed, he became irritable and refused appropriate treatment. Hematological tests showed normal ranges of RBC and platelets and low WBC (2.7 to 3.2 X 109/L) with lymphocytopenia (15-20%). Autopsy examination showed bilateral pneumonia with fibrinous pleurisy, severe diffuse nephrosclerosis, and atherosclerosis with involvement of aorta, coronary arteries, and myocardiosclerosis.

Case 2

A 65 year old man suffered from metabolic type1IDDM for 25 years. He was hypertensive. Since age 58 he had been on hemodialysis after recurrent episodes of pyelonephritis and subsequently necrotizing papillitis. During a dialysis session the patient complained of acute abdominal pain which was followed by intestinal hemorrhage. He was treated with transfusion therapy but died in hypovolemic shock after three days. Prior to his death laboratory tests had consistently shown elevated fasting glucose and serum creatinina, severe anemia and leukocytosis with a marked lymphocytopenia (≈6%).

Autopsy examination demonstrated cholesterol emboli of superior mesenteric arteries, multiple ulcerative and hemorrhagic lesions involving the terminal ileum and right colon, severe atherosclerosis with ulcerative plaques of the aorta, myocardiosclerosis and small myocardial infarcts, bilateralrenal sclerosis from pyelonephritis and papillitis.

 Case 3

A 61 year old woman had metabolic type1 IDDM for 35 years and suffered several episodes of pneumonia and pleurisy. She was hypertensive and had diabetic retinopathy complicated by bilateral blindness at age 54.

In August 2015 she complained of sudden retrosternal pain for which she was immediately hospitalized. The electrocardiogram and serum transaminase levels documented a myocardial infarction. Her fasting serum glucose value was >500mg/dl and hematological tests showed moderate anemia and leukocytosis with lymphocytopenia (8%).

She was treated with fibrinolytc drugs and cardiokinetics, but on the 7th day after admission hypotensive shock and death occurred.Autopsy examination showed a large acute myocardial infarct involving the anterior area of the left ventricle, severe atherosclerosis with thrombosis of the anterior coronary artery, diffuse glomerulosclerosis, areas of lung consolidation and pleural fibrosis.

Case 4

In May 2016 a 51 year old man was found lifeless in the street and was immediately transported to a trauma center where he was certified dead due to heart fibrillation. His relatives reported that he had measles and chicken-pox at age 18 followed by IDDM. He was generally well compensated with insulin treatment, although he suffered periodic hypoglycemic crisis. At age 44 he became hypertensive, showing signs of renal failure (creatinina2.5-3mg/dl) and visual deficit due to diabetic retinopathy. He suffered from chronic bronchitis and at age 47 was hospitalized for bilateral pneumonia with pleurisy. At that time he had a mild anemia with leukocytopenia and lymphocytopenia (8-10%).

Autopsy examination showed severe atherosclerosis with ulcerative plaques, recent thrombosis of the anterior coronary artery, myocardiosclerosis and some cicatritial microinfarcts involving the left ventricle. Diffuse glomerulosclerosis involved more than two-thirds of cortical tracts and complete hyalinization of the pancreatic islets was evident.

Histology and Immunohistochemistry

The histological and immunohistochemical study was focused on lymph-nodes removed during autopsies from axillary, supraclavicular, mediastinal and retroperitoneal sites. All tissue samples were fixed in buffered formalin and embedded in paraffin. Sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Giemsa, PAS, PAS-D, reticulin with Gomori procedure. 

Immunohistochemistry was performed with a panel of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies listed in (Table 1), with special target to endothelial cells (CD31, CD 34), follicular dendritic cells (CD21 and CD35), B lymphoid cells ( L26, LN1, MB2 ), T lymphoid cells (CD3, CD8, UCHL1, DF-T1, OPD4),monocytic cells (CD68 and KP1), interdigitating dendritic cells (S 100 protein, PGM1). Technical methods were used according to the LSAB 2 kit (Dakopatt,Carpinteria, CA, USA) and supersensitive biotin streptavidin kit (Biogenex Laboratories, S. Ramon, CA,USA), visualization was made with the immunoalkaline phosphatase or immunoperoxidase.

Dako, Dakopatts (Carpinteria, CA, USA, and Copenaghen, Denmark), Biogenex Laboratories (San Ramon, CA, USA) (*). microwave pretreatment

Details of antibodies used in the study

Table 1: Details of antibodies used in the study.

 Results

The lymph nodes from each of the patients showed similar histopathologic changes. Lymphodepletion of the B and T dependent areas was early apparent with rare small scattered lymphoid follicles. The general architectural structure appeared modify by presence of numerous vessels showing basement membrane thickening due to deposition of homogeneous PAS+hyaline substance. Several of these vessels showed a conglomerate appearance, and deposition of calcium microgranules (Figure 1a, Figure 1b). The cortical and medullary sinuses were present, outlined by monolayered or hyperplastic littoral cells. Diffuse depositions of hyaline substance were apparent especially around small vessels and capillaries and highlighted by PAS and PAS-D (Figure 2).

The thickened vessel walls were more clearly evident by immunostaining of the endothelial cells with CD34 and CD31 in the cortex, paracortex and medullary sites (Figure 3a, Figure 3b). ln the paracortical areas the number of T lymphocytes was very reduced as demonstrated by UCHL 1, CD3, CD8 and OPD4.

 Depletion of B lymphocytes was apparent in the cortical and medullary areas using the L26 (CD20), MB2 and LN1 (CDW75) antibodies. CD21 d CD35 could document a very low number of dendritic reticulum cells among small B lymphocytes and few small cleaved cells (Figure 4). S-100 protein revealed several interdigitating dendritic cells while CD 68 (KP1) showed frequent macrophages, generally inside the lymphatic vessels. The PCNA revealed a very low lymphocyte proliferation index (5-10 %).

General view of lymph-nodes showing structural modifications

Figure 1a: General view of lymph-nodes showing structural modifications by diffuse hyaline substance, marked lymphocytes depletion, absence of lymphoid follicles and deposition of calcium microgranules. Hematoxylin-eosin stain (A60x, B 120x).

General view of lymph-nodes showing structural modifications

 Figure 1b: General view of lymph-nodes showing structural modifications by diffuse hyaline substance, marked lymphocytes depletion, absence of lymphoid follicles and deposition of calcium microgranules. Hematoxylin-eosin stain (A60x, B 120x).

Detail of cortical area showing lymphocytes depletion

Figure 2:Detail of cortical area showing lymphocytes depletion along with deposition of hyaline substance in capillary vessels. PAS-D 250x.

lmmunohistochemistry using CD 34 highlights endothelial cells

Figure 3a: lmmunohistochemistry using CD 34 highlights endothelial cells surrounded by thickened hyaline substance together with severe lymphocytopenia (250 x).

lmmunohistochemistry using CD 34 highlights endothelial cells

 Figure 3b: lmmunohistochemistry using CD 34 highlights endothelial cells surrounded by thickened hyaline substance together with severe lymphocytopenia (250 x). 

Rarely it may be possible observe, by immunohistochemistry

Figure 4: Rarely it may be possible observe, by immunohistochemistry, small aggregations of follicular dendritic cells (red stain) but never complete lymphoid follicles. Generally cortical sinuses (on the left) doesnt show modifications and are outlined by normal littoral cells. (lmmunostaining for CD21 250x).

Discussion

 Numerous reports have demonstrated that patients with diabetes mellitus are more susceptible to infections than non-diabetic individuals. Infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients which may further have ischemic heart disease, cerebro-vascular accidents, aortic aneurisms and renal failure as diabetes complications. The immune defenses in diabetic individuals have been investigated by in vitro studies of cells involved in immuniity. Abnormalities have been shown in genetic (type 1), autoimmune (type 2) and metabolic (type 1and 2) IDDM although no conclusive data to explain the immune deficits have been obtained.

Among patients with IDDM, HLA antigen serologic analyses indicate significant positive associations with B8, B18, BW15, Dr3, Dr4, as well as other less definable HLA associations [1]. Some combinations of these HLA antigen expressions have been associated with T cell response abnormalities, decreased antibody titers and C4 deficiency [2-5].

However, defects of humoral immunity have also been reported in diabetics without any relation to HLA phenotypes [6,7]. Abnormalities in immune response to infections in diabetes mellitus, related to genetic factors, remain controversial. Autoimmunity has been postulated as a cause of type 2 diabetes mellitus. As in other autoimmune diseases immunodeficits may be associated with the primary disease. Abnormalities of blood CD4/CD8 T lymphocyte subsets have been reported by several authors as decreased, increased or normal [8]. The correlation of CD4/CD8 ratio to infections or immunodeficiency in diabetes is presently unclear.
 More recent studies and reports focused on pathophysiology of infections associated with diabetes mellitus refer negative effects on lymphocyte T and neutrophil functions with increased apoptosis and lower secretion of inflammatory cytokines while increased virulence of infectious microorganisms appears related to hyperglycemia which further produce apoptosis reduces polymorphonuclear leucocyte transmigration through the endothelium [2]. Regarding the lymphocytes some studies had demonstrated that when the glycated hemoglobin (HBA1c) is less of 8% the proliferative function of CD4T lymphocytes and their response to antigen is not impaired.  others publications related to large population-based observational studies have reported strong associations between higher HbA1c and infection risks for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes [9-16].

Indeed hyperglycemia may induce lymphopenia and lymphocyte subset redistribution in selected reported clinical study [17]. Therefore In general it is believed that a better regulation of diabetes mellitus leads to an improvement the immune cells function and to a reduced risk of infection complications [15]. Previously on the same line of research, MacCuish, et al., [18] examined the lymphocyte proliferation response to phytohemagglutinin in type 1 diabetic patients and found inhibitionin diabetics with poorly controlled disease (fasting glycemia>350 mg/dl ) compared with well controlled patients. Low plasma zinc levels have been reported in type1 and type2 diabetes mellitus. The importance of zinc has been suggested because T cell function appears related to thymulin which requires zinc to express its biological activities on cellular immunity. Zinc deficiency could therefore contribute in the lymphocyte abnormalities described in diabetes and also on neutrophils (PMN) of Rhesus monkeys [19-21].

Most likely metabolic defects and the other factors discussed above play an important role, but sometimes studies are contradictory in the immune deficit and propensity to infections in diabetic patients. In addition to these defects impairment of leukocyte efficiency and diapedesis may be significant factors. Thickening of capillary basement membranes observed by histomorphological methods represents a specific modification related to the diabetes microangiopathy; which may disrupt normal leukocyte egress.

 Basement Membrane Thickening (BMT) is characteristic of both major variants of diabetes mellitus and it is believed to be the result of increased synthesis or decreased degradation of basement membrane proteins [1]. However, because this membrane proves more permeable than normal, especially to plasma proteins, insudation of proteins is thought to contribute to BMT. Microangiopathy has been extensively described in the capillaries of renal glomeruli, retina, skeletal muscles, skin, peripheral nerves, and other sites.
Lymph nodes have not previously been the object of attention or study in diabetes. The results of our histological and immunohistochemical observations suggest the possibility of another mechanism potentially contributing to impaired immunity in patients with diabetes. The lymph nodes removed at autopsy on four patients with long-term IDDM have shown alteration of the normal architecture and peculiar changes of vessels with capillary BMT.

The lymph-nodes examined from several sites in each case always showed lymphodepletion of T and B cell zones frequently between hyaline substance deposition and with cortical areas devoid of lymphoid follicles (Figure 1,2,3).
 lmmunohistochemistry confirmed the low level of the T and B cells and further demonstrated a very low number of dendritic reticulum cells. Between DRCs only few mature B lymphocytes and some scattered small cleaved cells were observed (Figure 4).

The explanation for the low number of DRCs may be traced to their origin. DRCs are identifiable by immunohistochemistry using CD21 or CD35 MoAbs. They represent a peculiar cell component of lymphoid follicles and are believed to develop from local mesenchymal cells. Proposed origins have included fibroblastic-like cells, mononuclear phagocytic cells [22-26], perivascular cells and vessel endothelial cells.

Previous studies seem to indicate that DRC may be derived from transformed endothelial cells and constitute an enhancing microenvironment for B cell lymphoid expansion [27-29]. Therefore, one cause of the paucity of lymphocytes in diabetes mellitus could be related to lymph node microangiopathy. The involvement of thin capillaries, besides compromising the diapedesis and the traffic of T and B cells could prevent the transformation of endothelial cells into DRC, and eventually result in disruption of the normal microenvironment for B cell lymphocyte expansion and differentiation with failure of lymphoid follicles The diffuse involvement of lymph nodes by diabetes microangiopathy as described in our four cases perhaps could have a significant role in the immunodeficiency of IDDM. Likely in the future the best treatment for diabetic patients could be on the strong control of hyperglycemia and glycated hemoglobin with association of endothelial protecting drugs [30].

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*Corresponding author
Pietro Muretto, Department of Surgical Pathology, Pathologist and Hematologist, Ospedale San Salvatore Pesaro, ltaly, E-mail: pietro.muretto@virgilio.it

Citation
Muretto P. Diffuse lymph-nodes microangiopathy as concurrent cause of immunodeficiency in long-term insulin-dependent diabetic patients (2019) J Obesity and Diabetes 3: 25-29

Keywords

Diabetes Immunodeficiency, Lymph-nodes microangiopathy, Lymphodepletion, Follicular dendritic reticulum cells.