title: Alteration of plasma proteinase-antiproteinase system in type 1 diabetic patients. Influence of sex and relationship with metabolic control.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether or not alterations of the plasma proteinase-antiproteinase system were present in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients and, if so, whether or not they were related to sex, age at onset and duration of the disease as well as to short- and long-term diabetic control. The plasma concentration of trypsin-like activity and two of the most important plasma serine proteinase inhibitors, alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 2-macroglobulin, were determined in 95 type 1 diabetic and 67 control subjects. The plasma concentration of alpha 1 antitrypsin was found to be markedly decreased (P < 0.001), whereas plasma alpha 2-macroglobulin and trypsin-like activity were increased in diabetics compared to controls (P = 0.009 and < 0.001, respectively). Sex also influenced the values of both proteinase inhibitors in diabetics, women showing higher values of plasma alpha 1-antitrypsin (P = 0.004) than men. In women, HbA1c was also positively correlated with blood glucose (P < 0.001), daily insulin dosage (P < 0.001), and trypsin-like activity of plasma (P = 0.02). On the contrary, in men, HbA1c appeared to be negatively correlated with plasma alpha 2-macroglobulin (P = 0.02). In addition to sex, age at onset (but not duration) of the disease revealed differences in plasma alpha 1-antitrypsin among diabetics, the lowest mean value of this inhibitor being present in men with age at onset below 15 years, who also showed a significant negative correlation between this inhibitor and HbA1c (P = 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014357:Trypsin / Q000097:blood*; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000032:analysis*; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004573:Electrolytes; D010450:Endopeptidases; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D014357:Trypsin; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins