ELEVATION OF COMPLEMENT COMPONENTS IN DIABETES-MELLITUS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 6  (4) , 265-270
Abstract
The serum proteins composing the complement [c] system play a role in defense against infection and in the generation of immune-mediated disorder. To examine this system, 3 components of the complement system in diabetes were measured - an element in the classic (antibody-mediated) pathway, C4 [complement component 4]: an element in the properdin (non-antibody) pathway, C3 activator: and an element common to both pathways, C3. The levels of all 3 are increased both in diabetics and in individuals with glucose intolerance. In the glucose intolerant subjects elevation occurred either with or without fasting hyperglycemia. The levels of all 3 complement components were positively correlated with fasting plasma glucose in the glucose intolerant group. An increase of C component with age was found in the overall study population, and in 2 individual groups. For this reason a further comparison was made between nondiabetics and diabetics on the basis of age; the diabetic complement increase was still detectable. The levels of individual C components were correlated with each other in both diabetic and nondiabetic groups. An inverse correlation was found between C3 activator and albumin level. The elevation of C components was unrelated to the presence of severity of diabetic microvascular sequelae. The simultaneous development of C elevation and glucose intolerance strongly suggests a metabolic basis for the increase in its components while the lack of association of C elevation with diabetic sequelae argues against a role for C in the pathogenesis of diabetic microangiopathy.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: