Profile of plasma and erythrocyte enzymes: whole blood 2, 3 bisphosphoglyceric acid and reduced glutathione levels in Jamaican diabetics - abstract

ABSTRACT

The metabolism of normal red cell is well adapted to protect itself from oxidative stress. The maintenance of red cell membrane, haemoglobin and enzymes containing sulfhydryl groups (-SH groups) are dependent upon the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH). Alteration in the activities of enzymes such as glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase will affect the levels of GSH and consequently the red cell metabolism. Acetylcholinesterase, an SH-dependent enzyme, also increases in the red cells in diabetics and is related to membrane fluidity. The level of 2, 3- Bisphosphoglycerate (2,3-BPG) which serves an important mechanism by which the body regulates its oxygen supply from haemoglobin to meet tissue demands, also increases in chronic anaemias observed in diabetics. In the present studies the activities of plasma and erthrocyte cholinesterase, and erthrocyte glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase were measured in 40 diabetic patients (both IDDM and NIDDM groups). The whole blood 2, 3-BPG and GSH were also estimated in these patients. All five parameters showed significant increases in diabetic as compared to non-diabetic controls. The results could point to a potential role of G6PD 2, 3-BPG GSH and choline sterase as indicators of diabetes control (AU)