The Correlation between Oral Candida albicans and Interlukine-23 in Diabetic Patients in Hilla City, Iraq

Abstract Background: Candidiasis is the most common opportunistic fungal infection in the oral cavity. Because of immunosuppression and other physiological changes, diabetes makes people more susceptible to Candida infections. Candida infections have become more frequent through the years. Interleukins are a significant class of cytokines that control immunological processes and are produced by immunocompetent cells. Objective: Identification and molecular detection of Candida albicans and determination of interlukine-23 (IL-23) concentration and studying the correlation between oral C. albicans and IL-23 in diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: 100 study samples (60 patients; 40 control), 43 were male patients and 57 were female patients, the age ranging from 20 to 70 year. The oral swabs of all samples were identified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), blood samples were obtained from all patients and control in order to determine hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and IL-23. IL-23 level was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The current study revealed a higher prevalence of oral C. albicans colonization in diabetic patients than in control and found increase of significant differences in age >60 in the sample study between diabetic patients and control with oral C. albicans . An increase in the serum level of IL-23 was found among diabetic patients with oral C. albicans when compared with healthy controls. There is negative correlation between IL-23 and HbA1c in diabetic patients. Conclusion: Oral C. albicans were more prevalent in diabetic patients in comparison with healthy subjects, identified by specific primer by real-time PCR, along with a significant increase in IL-23 concentration between patients and controls with oral C. albicans was noted. Oral C. albicans were more prevalent in diabetic patients in comparison with healthy subjects, identified by specific primer by real-time PCR.