Erythrocyte caspase-3 and antioxidant defense is activated in red blood cells and plasma of type 2 diabetes patients at first clinical onset.

Objectives: We studied erythrocyte (RBC) caspase-3 activity and oxidative status in plasma and RBCs of 33 patients with type 2 diabetes at first clinical onset and 23 age-matched non-diabetes control subjects.

Methods: Caspase-3 activity was assayed during the life span of RBCs; lipid peroxides and total antioxidant capacity (TEAC) were assessed in plasma and RBCs as indicators of oxidative stress and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense; and superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activity were measured in RBCs as enzymatic antioxidants.

Results: We found that, compared to controls, RBCs caspase-3 is activated early in type 2 diabetes (P < 0.