**15. Cellular innate immunity: monocytes/macrophages**

Both impaired chemotaxis and phagocytosis of the monocytes of diabetic patients have been described [1, 40]. Since plasma from healthy controls does not cause any significant change in the phagocytotic capacity of diabetic monocytes [40], it seems that this impaired function is caused by an intrinsic defect in the monocytes themselves.

A lower immune response in children with DM type 1 compared to controls was found after intradermal (instead of intramuscular) administration of the hepatitis B vaccine [5]. It has been suggested that this lower response is probably partly the result of an impaired macrophage function in this patient group [5].

In combination with the earlier mentioned decreased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines after LPS stimulation in DM type 1 patients, it seemed that monocyte/macrophage functions are impaired in DM type 1 patients.
