Host defense mellitus: defective membrane synthesis during phagocytosis.

During phagocytosis, polymorphonuclear leukocytes from poorly controlled diabetic patients convert lysolecithin to lecithin at a lower rate than cells from control subjects. This defect is partially reversed by treatment with insulin. By reducing the availability of structural lipid for formation of the phagocytic vacuole which normally takes place during phagocytosis, this impairment may compromise cellular host-defense mechanisms in some diabetic patients.