Studies of cultured human fibroblasts in diabetes mellitus: changes in heparan sulfate

Abstract
Since the expression of a diabetic gene (or genes) may allow accumulation of substances which might account for some biochemical changes in diabetes mellitus. The incorporation of [35S]sulfate into glycosaminoglycans was studied in cultures of normal and diabetic skin fibroblasts. Heparan sulfate was determined by column chromatography after enzymatic degradation of chondroitin sulfates and dermatan sulfate by chondroitinase ABC. Cultured skin fibroblasts from both insulin-dependent and noninsulin-dependent diabetics had increased proportions of heparan sulfate in the media relative to the other sulfated glycosaminoglycans.