O-glycosyltransferase activation in leukocytes contributes to early renal function impairment in type 2 diabetes

Leukocytes infiltration into renal tissue is an early feature of diabetic kidney disease. Leukocyte homing and extravasation is influenced by O-glycosylation of serine and threonine rich proteins by enzyme Core 2 β-1, 6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (Core-2). We hypothesized that hyperglycemia induces activation of Core-2 O-glycosylates adhesion molecule very late antigen-4 (VLA-4), thereby increasing adhesion and extravasation of leukocytes to endothelial cells and promoting renal inflammation. We isolated peripheral blood leukocytes from age-matched healthy volunteers (CON; n = 20) and patients with a minimu…