Impaired neutrophil actin assembly causes persistent CD11b expression and reduced primary granule exocytosis in Type II diabetes

Aims/hypothesis. Neutrophil dysfunction has a role in the pathogenesis of complications in Type 11 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. Neutrophils adhere through expression of the beta(2)integrin CD11b/CD18 which closely associates with the actin cytoskeleton. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of actin polymerisation on CD11b expression and exocytosis of the primary granule marker CD69 in neutrophils from patients with Type 11 diabetes. Methods. Neutrophils were activated with fMLP or PMA, actin polymerisation was inhibited with cytochalasin D. Cells were stained for CD11b and CD69 expression and intracellular F-actin was measured with phalloidin-FITC, Cellular fluorescence was measured by flow cytometry. Actin content of Triton X100 fractions of cells was measured by SDS-PAGE and Coomassie blue staining. Results. PMA caused an increase in neutrophil F-actin that was greater in control subjects than in patients with Type 11 diabetes (50.8% vs 33.4%, p<0.001) and correlated with actin integrated optical density (IOD) by SDS-PAGE (r=0.74, p=0.01). Loss of CD11b from cell surfaces only occurred in neutrophils with high F-actin. The proportion of cells losing CD11b was lower in patients than in control subjects (23.1% vs 37.5%, p<0.001) and lowest in patients with additional cardiovascular risk markers (20.1% vs 27.7%; p<0.05). Cytochalasin D prevented loss of CD11b (p<0.001). CD69 expression was reduced in patients with Type II diabetes (22.6% vs 36.4%, p<0.001) and correlated with F-actin content (r=0.78, p<0.0001). Conclusion/interpretation. In Type II diabetes impaired neutrophil actin polymerisation leads to persistent expression of CD11b and reduced exocytosis of primary granules and could contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic complications.