Expression of monocyte inducible heme oxygenase-1 in type 2 diabetic patients

Objective To investigate the expression of inducible heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) in peripheral blood monocytes and the correlation between HO-1 gene expression and carotid intima-media thickness(IMT) in patients with type 2 diabetes(T2DM).Methods Blood specimens from 38 T2DM patients and 20 healthy volunteers were collected for determination of HO-1 gene expression of circulating monocytes using RT-PCR.Carotid IMT was measured by Doppler ultrasound.Results Monocyte HO-1 gene expression was significantly higher in diabetic patients(0.98±0.53) than in controls(0.44±0.23,P0.001).In diabetic patients,serum total cholesterol(TC,r=0.364,P=0.020)and hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c,r=-0.381,P=0.015)were independently associated with HO-1 gene expression,and increased carotid IMT was significantly correlated with HO-1 gene expression(r=0.445,P=0.003).Conclusion The elevated gene expression of HO-1 indicates the presence of a prooxidant status in monocytes from diabetic patients,which is possibly associated with hypercholesteremia and long-term hyperglycemia.The positive relationship between HO-1 and carotid IMT demonstrates that maybe HO-1 plays a critical role in the development of early-stage atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetics.