Production of Active Oxygen Species from Neutrophils and Polyol Pathway in Hyperglycemia

Abstract

To understand the mechanism of suppression of active oxygen species production in neutrophils in diabetics, we examined the polyol pathway by using the aldose reductase inhibitor (ONO-2235) in relation to superoxide production in neutrophils.
Sorbitol levels were increased in erythrocytes from diabetic patients. Sorbitol accumulation in erythrocytes during incubation with glucose was suppressed by the addition of the inhibitor.
The superoxide production in neutrophils was increased by the incubation with glucose (25 and 50 mmol/l, p<0.01) and suppressed by the addition of the inhibitor (2.5 and 25 μ mol/l, p< 0.05-0.01).
The augmented polyol pathway in hyperglycemia may suppress the production of active oxygen species in diabetic neutrophils.