A study has found that lowering the blood sugar levels of people infected by a type of enterovirus might reduce the severity of symptoms and risk of death in a discovery that potentially boosts efforts to develop better medicines.
Taiwan has suffered from outbreaks of enterovirus 71 every three to five years since its first-ever flareup in 1998, said Juang Jyh-lyh (莊志立), a researcher at the Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine at the National Health Research Institutes (NHRI).
The initial outbreak infected an estimated 405 people, including 78 children who died as a result of the disease, he said.
Photo: Chiu Chih-jou, Taipei Times
Although deadly cases of enterovirus 71 infection have become rare, they still happen today, which makes understanding the disease important to the NHRI, Juang said.
Patients with severe symptoms often display high blood sugar levels, but the mechanism that connected them was unknown, he said.
The study suggests the surge in blood sugar might be caused by the virus’ attempt to create a better environment for its reproduction, Juan said.
Utilizing genetically modified laboratory mice, the research team discovered that insulin injections significantly improved the chances of surviving an enterovirus 71 infection, he said.
The brain stem of mice that received the shots also displayed lower viral loads, he added.
A further study showed enterovirus 71 appeared to target the pancreas, triggering a rise in blood sugar levels and the expression of a ribonucleic acid named miR-206, which also increases blood sugar levels.
The vicious cycle caused soaring viral loads that enabled the virus to attack the brain, causing severe symptoms, he said.
Enterovirus infection deemed to be less dangerous than type 71 did not affect miR-206, Juan said.
Parents should not give candies, sweets or sugary drinks to children with an enterovirus infection, he said.
Middle-aged people and the elderly infected by the virus should also be vigilant about their blood sugar levels, said coauthor Chow Yen-hung (周彥宏), another researcher at the institute.
Taiwan is entering a high-risk reason for the spread of enterovirus 71, he added.
NHRI vice president Wayne Sheu (許惠恒) said that the research potentially allows the development of drugs that counter the virus’ effect on miR-206.
The research was published in the journal Theranostics.
Additional reporting by CNA
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