Effects of type 2 diabetes mellitus on plasma fatty acid composition and cholesterol content of erythrocyte and leukocyte membranes

Abstract

Insulin resistance is a major factor in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and is related to the fatty acid profile of the plasma membranes. The purpose of the present study was to investigate fatty acid composition and cholesterol content of cell membranes in patients with type 2 diabetes and, thus, to evaluate the possible factors leading to the alteration of plasma membrane fluidity. The study was performed in 20 healthy control subjects and 32 patients with type 2 diabetes. The fatty acid profiles and cholesterol content of the erythrocyte (RBC) and leukocyte (WBC) membranes were determined by a gas chromatographic method. When one considers the membrane constituents increasing fluidity and the ones decreasing it, the diabetics had a membrane composition decreasing fluidity compared to controls. On the other hand, when compared to control subjects, type 2 diabetic patients showed a significantly higher proportion of C16:0 components in erythrocyte and leukocyte membranes and plasma samples (25.4+/-3.1% vs. 31.1+/-4%; 23.3+/-2.4% vs. 29.3+/-5.2%; 27.6+/-3.9% vs. 34.5+/-5.7%; p<0.005, p<0.01 and p<0.005, respectively). Our results suggest that the ratio of saturated:unsaturated fatty acids changes in plasma and cell membranes of patients with type 2 diabetes. This situation may cause, at least in part, RBC-WBC function abnormalities and insulin resistance because of inconvenient membrane fluidity.

CLOCK genetic variation and metabolic syndrome risk: modulation by monounsaturated fatty acids

“…It has been postulated that the FA composition of RBCs is a reliable biomarker of dysregulation of lipid and glucose metabolism in the liver. Furthermore, insulin resistance correlates with changes in the FA composition of RBC membranes (51). In our population, subjects with those genetic variants associated with a lower oleic acid content in RBCs also displayed MetS alterations.…”

Insulin Receptor Signaling in Normal and Insulin-Resistant States

“…An increase in the saturated-tounsaturated FA ratio is observed in type-2 diabetic patients and is thought to reduce membrane fluidity and insulin sensitivity (Field et al 1990;Bakan et al 2006). Moreover, an increase in the phosphatidylcholine (PC) to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) ratio in endoplasmic reticulum leads to the activation of ER stress and is associated with insulin resistance (Fu et al 2011).…”

Effect of tea catechins on erythrocyte Ca++-pump in type 2 diabetes mellitus

“…An altered erythrocyte Ca ++ -ATPase activity has been linked to the development of neuropathy in diabetes (Jain & Lim, 2000). The decrease in Ca ++ -ATPase activity in type 2 diabetes may be due to altered membrane properties including functional and compositional changes (Shin et al, 2007;Bakan et al, 2006). A relationship has been reported between the blood glucose levels and erythrocyte membrane ATPases (Adamson et al, 1986).…”