[Beta-glucuronidase deficiency in the peripheral neutrophils in diabetes mellitus]

The intracellular activity of beta-glucuronidase (BG) was determined in peripheral blood neutrophils in 59 patients with diabetes mellitus, 35 females and 24 males, aged from 30 to 90 (mean age 60.2). Semiquantitative cytochemical method of Hayashi et al. was employed (1964). The control group consisted of 70 healthy subjects, 29 males and 41 females, aged from 20 to 90 (mean age 58.7). A decreased intracellular activity of beta-glucuronidase in neutrophils as well as an increase pool of beta-glucuronidase were observed in the patients. The authors discuss the significance of this observation in the elucidation of the mechanisms involved in diminished non-specific immunity of patients with diabetes.