Altered reactive oxygen species production capacity of circulating blood-derived leukocytes in a rat model of type 2 diabetes: A pilot study.

AIMS: This study aimed to investigate whether the developed optical system could monitor the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production capacity of leukocytes in rodent whole blood using a rat model of type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Optical signals associated with leukocyte ROS production, body weight, and neutrophil count were monitored in a spontaneously developing rat model of type 2 diabetes at 5, 8, 12, 16, and 26 weeks of age. Blood metabolic parameters (glucose, insulin, triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels) and liver and renal function markers were also measured at 5, 16, and 26 weeks of age. Independent cohorts were analyzed at each time point. ROS-associated signals were measured using 3 μL of whole blood with a fluidic chip-based optical detection platform. This assay system was designed to simultaneously monitor superoxide- and hypochlorous acid-related optical signals produced by stimulated leukocytes.

RESULTS

Superoxide production-associated chemiluminescence levels were higher in diabetic rats at 16 and 26 weeks of age and were positively correlated with blood glucose and lipid levels. In contrast, hypochlorous acid production-associated fluorescence levels remained unchanged or were slightly lower in diabetic rats.

CONCLUSIONS

Elucidating the mechanism underlying increased superoxide production in diabetic rats, with a focus on its relationship with blood glucose and lipid levels, was identified as an area for future research. An imbalance between superoxide and hypochlorous acid production may be associated with diabetes. Future studies should address missing values, particularly for the hypochlorous acid-associated fluorescence index, and compare the present results with those obtained using conventional methods.