Lymphocyte transglutaminase function may be impaired in type 2 diabetes mellitus

A method for capping of beta 2-microglobulin involving the transglutaminase inhibitor monodansylthiacadaverine was applied to lymphocytes from 17 patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and from a matched control group of 16 normoglycaemic healthy subjects. Monodansylthiacadaverine strongly inhibited the capping, which points to the involvement of transglutaminase in the redistribution of beta 2-microglobulin on the cell surface. The inhibition was more pronounced in lymphocytes from diabetic patients, indicating impaired transglutaminase function in Type 2 diabetes mellitus.