Oxygen-Dependent Bactericidal Activity of Leukocytes in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus - Original Article

Abstract
Objective: In this study it is aimed to investigate the oxygen-dependent bactericidal activity of leukocytes in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2.
Materials and Methods: All the data obtained from 28 patients with diabetes mellitus were compared with 31 demographically matched control individuals. Leukocytes of patients with diabetes mellitus and healthy control group were separated from blood samples for determination of oxygen-dependent antimicrobial activity enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GSH-R), gluthatione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase. As lipid peroxidation products, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were measured. 
Results: SOD, GSH-R, and catalase activities of patients with type 2 diabetes were not significantly different from control group (p>0.05). GSH-Px levels of patients with diabetes mellitus were significantly lower than control group (0.012±0.08 U/mg.pr versus 0.057±0.046 U/mg.pr, p<0.05). Measurements of TBARS were not different between patients with diabetes mellitus and control group (5.49±1.31 mmol/l versus 5.53±1.45 mmol/l, p=0.905).
Conclusions: It is difficult to suggest that in patients with diabetes mellitus the tendency to some known infections is due to alteration in oxygen-dependent bactericidal activity of leukocytes.