Studies of Cultured Human Fibroblasts in Diabetes Mellitus: Changes in Heparan Sulfate

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 were found to have increased proportions of heparan sulfate in the media relative to the other sulfated glycosaminoglycans.