A comparative study of DNA damage in patients suffering from diabetes and thyroid dysfunction and complications

OBJECTIVE: The apoptotic DNA levels in blood leukocytes of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and thyroid dysfunctionism were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay) detects migration of DNA from individual cell nuclei following alkaline treatment. Comet assay pattern was studied in individuals with T2D, hypothyroid (HT), hyperthyroid (HeT), and patients suffering from both diabetes mellitus and HT (HT + DM). Results were compared with the normal subjects (n = 9 in each group). The percentage apoptotic cell populations were calculated from the tail length. RESULTS: T2D patients showed 92.24% of cell damage compared to HT or HeT patients (51.04% or 54.64%, respectively). Further, increase in cell damage was also observed in HT + DM subjects (P < 0.05). Pharmacologic therapy significantly influenced cell damage. However, age and duration of disease did not show any definite influence on apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Dependence of disease seems to be the major contributor of the cell damage. However, thyroid dysfunction did not show any deleterious effects on individual cells under the study.