Alterations in monocyte receptor function in type 1 diabetic patients with ketoacidosis

The level of expression of three monocyte cell surface receptors was studied in seven patients with Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes admitted to hospital with ketoacidosis. After recovery of metabolic control the monocyte carbohydrate-binding (‘lectin-like’) receptors that recognize bacterial cell wall sugars and receptors for complement components were reduced in the patients compared with normal control subjects. This was in contrast to the expression of the receptor for the Fc portion of immunoglobulin which remained unaltered. Compared with the control subjects the level of ‘lectin-like’ receptors was reduced by 22.8 ± 6.5 % (p < 0.05) on admission to hospital and 12.1 ± 1.7 % (p < 0.001) 6 weeks later when metabolic control had been established. The expression of complement receptors was 33.8 ± 8.1 % (p < 0.01) lower than normal subjects when the diabetic patients suffered from ketoacidosis and 8.6 ± 1.6 % (p < 0.01) lower than control subjects when patients had recovered metabolic control. The increased susceptibility to infection seen in diabetic patients, and the high incidence of infection in patients with ketoacidosis, may be partially the result of these changes in monocyte recognition mechanisms.