Background: Glut-1 is the human erythrocyte glucose transporter which mediates facilitative transport of glucose across epithelial and endothelial barrier tissues. A primary abnormality in glucose transport and Glut-1 cell-surface content has been observed in fibroblasts from NIDDM and obese individuals. With the strong correlation between necrobiosis lipoidica and diabetes mellitus, we investigated the expression of Glut-1 in diabetic individuals with necrobiosis lipoidica (NL).
Methods: A polyclonal anti-Glut-1 antibody was used with a standard immunoperoxidase technique to determine Glut-1 expression by fibroblasts in areas of sclerotic collagen from specimens taken from diabetic individuals with necrobiosis lipoidica,and non-diabetic individuals with scars and granuloma annulare (GA).
Results: Our results showed Glut-1 expression in the areas of sclerotic collagen in patients with NL, possibly contributing to insulin resistance in these tissues.
Conclusions: Our findings raises the question as to whether abnormalities in glucose transport by fibroblasts in individuals with necrobiosis lipoidica contribute to the histopathologic changes.