Zymogram profiling of myeloperoxidase in association with increased risk of infection susceptibility in diabetic foot ulcer

An increase in blood glucose level can lead to altered immunological response of the body and increased infection susceptibility in diabetic condition. This condition along with the variation in the oxidant-antioxidant status can further lead to impaired wound healing. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is one of the key enzymes involved in oxidative stress and phagocytosis. The main focus of this study was on the prevalence of isozymes of MPO in diabetic foot ulcer condition. Prior to the zymogram studies, the variations in leukocyte MPO activity in diabetic patients with and without foot infection were analysed. The MPO activity in diabetic foot ulcer patients was elevated than that of diabetic patients without foot ulcer complications, but the levels were not up to the MPO levels of the controls. The difference in banding pattern was observed in native PAGE analysis of MPO enzyme isolated from diabetic foot ulcer patients compared to diabetic and non-diabetic control groups. The multiple isozymic bands observed in diabetic foot ulcer condition were unique from that of diabetic patients without complication and normal healthy individuals.