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Non‐enzymatic glycosylation of keratin from the stratum corneum of the diabetic foot
Author(s) -
DELBRIDGE L.,
ELLIS C.S.,
ROBERTSON K.,
LEQUESNE L.P.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1985.tb15262.x
Subject(s) - stratum corneum , keratin , glycosylation , diabetes mellitus , enzyme , chemistry , dermatology , medicine , biochemistry , pathology , endocrinology
SUMMARY Non‐enzymatic glycosylation of keratin from the stratum corneum of the sole of the foot was measured by the thiobarbituric acid technique in thirty diabetic and thirty control subjects. A significant increase in the level of glycosylation was demonstrated in the diabetic subjects ( P < 0.001). HbA 1 levels were measured in a further eighteen subjects at the same time as keratin was removed, and in this group a significant association between non‐enzymatic glycosylation of that protein and diabetic control was demonstrated ( P < 0.01). In vitro incubation of keratin in the presence of free glucose produced increased non‐enzymatic glycosylation ( P < 0.01) and this effect was blocked by incubation in the presence of increasing concentrations of aspirin ( P < 0.01). Measurement of non‐enzymatic glycosylation of keratin in a further group of twenty diabetics with neuropathic ulceration showed a significant increase in levels when compared with a group of diabetics without ulcers ( P < 0.05). As keratin is the principle structural protein of the stratum corneum of the sole of the foot, it is possible that changes in this protein associated with non‐enzymatic glycosylation may contribute to abnormalities seen in the skin of the feet of diabetics.