Increased fructose 2,6-bisphosphate in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with diabetes

Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (F2,6BP) is a powerful allosteric activator of 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase, which is the rate-limiting enzyme for glycolysis. Mitogenic stimulation of lymphocytes is related to an enhanced rate of glucose utilization and F2,6BP mediated activation of glycolysis. To determine the effect of hyperglycemia on intracellular glycolysis of lymphocytes, we measured intracellular F2,6BP content in peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from patients with diabetes and normal subjects. A total of 62 subjects participated in the present study. Venous blood samples were collected and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were separated by Ficoll gradients. Intracellular F2,6BP levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from normal control subjects were significantly lower than age-matched diabetic subjects. We observed a significant positive correlation between intracellular F2,6BP levels and long term glycemic control, as assessed by HbA1c. These data suggest that hyperglycemia increases intracellular F2,6BP in immune cells. These findings may help to clarify the impaired function in immune cells in patients with diabetes