title: Decreased leukotriene B4 synthesis by polymorphonuclear leukocytes from male patients with diabetes mellitus.
abstract: Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) synthesis and release by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) from 17 male patients with type I diabetes mellitus was decreased (407.1 +/- 55.6 vs 709.4 +/- 62.7 ng/30 X 10(6) cells/10 min, mean +/- SE, p less than 0.001) as compared with 17 normal subjects matched for sex and age. There was an inverse correlation (r = -0.50, p less than 0.04) between LTB4 synthesis and plasma glucose concentration in the diabetic patients. The same correlation (r = -0.71, p less than 0.01) was observed in three diabetic patients studied weekly for one month. Because LTB4 is a potent chemoattractant and stimulates PMNL function, the defect in its synthesis may contribute to the predisposition to infections in the diabetic patient.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007975:Leukotriene B4