The state of local lung protection in experimental diabetes

Abstract

Metabolic disorders in the organism associated with diabetes mellitus impair organs and systems, including the respiratory system. However local defense of the lungs in diabetics has been little studied up to the present time. We investigated cellular (total cell counts, counts of alveolar macrophages and segmented neutrophils, phagocytic number, phagocytic index, spontaneous and induced NBT test, and stimulation index) and humoral (lysozyme) factors of local defense of the lungs. Total cell count increased in diabetics, mainly at the expense of increased count of segmented neutrophils; the count of alveolar macrophages decreased, phagocytic number and phagocytic index reduced and spontaneous and induced NBT values and lysozyme level increased. These shifts were more pronounced by day 45 of observation. The above mentioned changes in local defense of the lungs indicate reduced phagocytic and bactericidal activities of alveolar macrophages and a decrease of antibacterial resistance of local lung defense system in diabetes mellitus.