The activity of which of the following enzymes is increased in Diabetes Mellitus?
The key enzymes to consider are those involved in glucose metabolism or complications. For example, aldose reductase is part of the polyol pathway, which is activated when glucose is high. Excess glucose is converted to sorbitol by aldose reductase, leading to complications like neuropathy. So, increased aldose reductase activity is a hallmark in diabetes.
Other enzymes might include sorbitol dehydrogenase, but that's less commonly a focus. Alternatively, maybe glucose-6-phosphatase or others in gluconeogenesis? But those are more about production rather than complications. The most classic one is definitely aldose reductase.
Now, the incorrect options would be enzymes not linked to diabetes. For example, acetylcholinesterase isn't related. Lactate dehydrogenase might be elevated in other conditions, not specifically diabetes. Hexokinase activity might decrease due to insulin resistance.
The clinical pearl here is that aldose reductase inhibitors are being researched as treatments for diabetic complications. So the correct answer is aldose reductase. Let me structure the explanation accordingly.
**Core Concept**
Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is associated with hyperglycemia, which activates the **polyol pathway** via the enzyme **aldose reductase**. This pathway converts excess glucose to sorbitol, contributing to osmotic stress and diabetic complications like neuropathy and retinopathy. The question tests knowledge of enzyme dysregulation in DM pathophysiology.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
**Aldose reductase** catalyzes the reduction of glucose to sorbitol, using NADPH. In DM, elevated glucose overwhelms the glycolytic pathway, diverting glucose into the polyol pathway. Sorbitol accumulation in nerve cells, lens fibers, and Schwann cells causes osmotic damage, while NADPH depletion impairs antioxidant defenses. This mechanism is central to microvascular complications.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** Acetylcholinesterase is irrelevant to glucose metabolism and not linked to DM.
**Option B:** Hexokinase activity decreases in insulin-resistant states due to impaired glucose phosphorylation.
**Option C:** Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) elevation is nonspecific for DM and more indicative of tissue hypoxia or hemolysis.
**Option D:** Sorbitol dehydrogenase converts sorbitol to fructose but is not upregulated in DM; its activity is rate-limiting in the polyol pathway.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Aldose reductase inhibitors (e.g., epalrestat) are investigational therapies for diabetic neuropathy. Remember: **"Polyol pathway = aldose reductase = sorbitol = osmotic injury"** in DM complications.
**Correct Answer: C. Aldose reductase**