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Plasma methylglyoxal and glyoxal are elevated and related to early membrane alteration in young, complication-free patients with Type 1 diabetes

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Abstract

The reactive aldehydes methylglyoxal and glyoxal, arise from enzymatic and non-enzymatic degradation of glucose, lipid and protein catabolism, and lipid peroxidation. In Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) where hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, and lipid peroxidation are common, these aldehydes may be elevated. These aldehydes form advanced glycation end products (AGEs) with proteins that are implicated in diabetic complications. We measured plasma methylglyoxal and glyoxal in young, complication-free T1DM patients and assessed activity of the ubiquitous membrane enzyme, Na+/K+ ATPase. A total of 56 patients with TIDM (DM group), 6–22 years, and 18 non-diabetics (ND group), 6–21 years, were enrolled. Mean plasma A1C (%) was higher in the DM group (8.5 ± 1.3) as compared to the ND group (5.0 ± 0.3). Using a novel liquid chromatography-mass spectrophotometry method, we found that mean plasma methylglyoxal (nmol/l) and glyoxal levels (nmol/l), respectively, were higher in the DM group (841.7 ± 237.7, 1051.8 ± 515.2) versus the ND group (439.2 ± 90.1, 328.2 ± 207.5). Erythrocyte membrane Na+/K+ ATPase activity (nmol NADH oxidized/min/mg protein) was elevated in the DM group (4.47 ± 0.98) compared to the ND group (2.16 ± 0.59). A1C correlated with plasma methylglyoxal and glyoxal, and both aldehydes correlated with each other. A high correlation of A1C with Na+/K+ ATPase activity, and a regression analysis showing A1C as a good predictor of activity of this enzyme, point to a role for glucose in membrane alteration. In complication-free patients, increased plasma methylglyoxal, plasma glyoxal, and erythrocyte Na+/K+ ATPase activity may foretell future diabetic complications, and emphasize a need for aggressive management.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Regional Partnership Program, the Janeway Foundation and the Health Care Foundation for funding to carry out this study. We also thank the School of Graduate Studies, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University for student support for Yingchun Han.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Memorial University, St. John’s, Canada

    Yingchun Han & Edward Randell

  2. Discipline of Medicine, Health Sciences Centre, Memorial University, 300 Prince Philip Drive, Room H4310, A1B 3V6, St. John’s, NF, Canada

    Sudesh Vasdev & Vicki Gill

  3. Division of Community Health, Memorial University, St. John’s, Canada

    Vereesh Gadag

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St. John’s, Canada

    Leigh Anne Newhook

  5. Eastern Health, St. John’s, NF, Canada

    Marie Grant & Donna Hagerty

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  1. Yingchun Han
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Correspondence to Sudesh Vasdev.

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Han, Y., Randell, E., Vasdev, S. et al. Plasma methylglyoxal and glyoxal are elevated and related to early membrane alteration in young, complication-free patients with Type 1 diabetes. Mol Cell Biochem 305, 123–131 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-007-9535-1

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