Related Experiment Videos
Pulmonary function and circulating adhesion molecules in patients with diabetes mellitus
Mary S Boulbou1, Konstantinos I Gourgoulianis, Efthymia A Petinaki
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece.
Canadian Respiratory Journal
|August 29, 2003
Summary
Diabetes impairs lung function, reducing pulmonary volumes and posture-related diffusion capacity. Elevated E-selectin levels in diabetic patients suggest microvascular damage, impacting lung health.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus is associated with vascular dysfunction due to hyperglycemia-induced adhesion molecule expression.
- Previous studies on lung function in diabetes have yielded conflicting results.
- Adhesion molecules play a critical role in the pathophysiology of vascular dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between lung function parameters and circulating adhesion molecule levels in diabetic individuals.
- To assess pulmonary diffusion capacity and lung volumes in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
- To explore the potential role of adhesion molecules as markers of endothelial activation in diabetes-related lung changes.
Main Methods:
- Spirometry and single-breath carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLco) measurements were performed in 16 type 1 diabetic patients, 33 type 2 diabetic patients, and 22 healthy controls.
- DLco was measured in both sitting and supine positions, corrected by alveolar volume (VA).
- Serum levels of soluble E-selectin and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) were quantified, alongside parameters of glycemic control and diabetic complications.
Main Results:
- Diabetic subjects exhibited reduced total lung capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1s/forced vital capacity compared to controls.
- A diminished variation in DLco and DLco/VA was observed when changing posture from sitting to supine in diabetic patients.
- Elevated serum E-selectin concentrations were found in diabetic patients, while VCAM-1 levels showed no significant difference.
- Stepwise regression analysis identified E-selectin as a key factor influencing DLco/VA variation.
Conclusions:
- Diabetic patients demonstrate impaired pulmonary volumes and altered DLco response to postural changes.
- Increased E-selectin levels in diabetes may indicate endothelial activation and damage, potentially affecting pulmonary microvasculature.
- Adhesion molecules like E-selectin could serve as sensitive indicators of diabetes-related endothelial dysfunction impacting lung function.