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Increased polymorphonuclear leukocyte respiratory burst function in type 2 diabetes

W Lee Hand1, Debra L Hand, Yvonne Vasquez

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX 79905, USA. lee.hand@ttuhsc.edu

Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
|September 9, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Type 2 diabetes patients exhibit heightened superoxide production in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), potentially increasing infection risk. Protein kinase C inhibitors and azithromycin reduced this oxidative burst activity in diabetic and control subjects.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Metabolic Disorders

Background:

  • Diabetes mellitus is associated with increased susceptibility to infections and chronic inflammation.
  • Hyperglycemia and metabolic abnormalities in diabetes may impact immune cell function, specifically polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate oxidative respiratory burst activity (superoxide production) in PMN from type 2 diabetic patients compared to healthy controls.
  • To examine the effects of protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors and azithromycin on PMN superoxide production.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed superoxide production in non-stimulated and stimulated (PMA, zymosan) PMN from 70 type 2 Hispanic diabetic patients and 70 healthy Hispanic controls.
  • Investigated the impact of PKC inhibitors and azithromycin on superoxide generation.

Main Results:

  • PMN from diabetic individuals showed significantly higher superoxide production at rest and upon stimulation compared to controls.
  • PKC inhibitors reduced superoxide production in PMN from both diabetic and control groups.
  • Azithromycin markedly inhibited superoxide generation in all tested PMN.

Conclusions:

  • Increased oxidative respiratory burst activity in PMN may contribute to infection and inflammation in type 2 diabetes.
  • PKC and azithromycin demonstrate potential as modulators of this heightened PMN response, warranting further investigation for therapeutic applications.

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