[Effect of nitric oxide upon apoptosis activation in immunocompetent blood cells in diabetes mellitus, type 1].

NO-synthase activity, the content of stable products of NO metabolism (nitrites and nitrates) as well as fragmented DNA as biochemical marker of apoptosis have been determined in segmentonuclear neutrophilic granulocytes and mononuclear leukocytes in blood of healthy donors and patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. It was found that activation of apoptosis in polymorphonuclear and mononuclear blood leukocytes under diabetes mellitus was accompanied by an elevation of NO-synthase activity and the content of stable NO metabolites. This suggests an increase of proapoptotic action of nitric oxide in immunocompetent blood cells under the pathology studied.