Neutrophil Chemiluminescence during Phagocytosis Is Inhibited by Abnormally Elevated Levels of Acetoacetate: Implications for Diabetic Susceptibility to Infections

Human neutrophils by a chemiluminescence assay exhibit diminished phagocytic activity in the presence of abnormally high levels of the serum metabolite acetoacetate. These findings, along with our previous evidence demonstrating myeloperoxidase inhibition by acetoacetate, implicate metabolic ketosis in the inhibition of neutrophil microbicidal activity and thus in increased susceptibility to infections.