title: Glycosaminoglycans of abdominal skin after massive weight loss in post-bariatric female patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of post-bariatric patients had a significant increase over the last years, and a better understanding of the consequences of massive weight loss on skin is imperative. Despite weight-loss-related changes in collagen and elastin have been reported, less is known about changes in another of the matrix components of the skin, the glycosaminoglycans. The objective of this study is to evaluate abdominal skin glycosaminoglycans concentrations and perlecan and collagen III expression in post-bariatric female patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Skin tissue samples from the abdomen of lean (n = 19) and post-bariatric (n = 24) female patients were compared. Sulfated glycosaminoglycans and hyaluronic acid were extracted, characterized and quantified. Perlecan and collagen III expression was assessed by immunofluorescence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The major glycosaminoglycans found were dermatan sultafe and hyaluronic acid; the others were found in smaller amounts. The skin of the post-bariatric patients had lower concentrations of heparan sulfate (p = 0.002) while hyaluronic acid, dermatan sulfate, and chondroitin sulfate concentrations were similar to the lean women's skin. Post-bariatric skin showed decreased expression of perlecan and increased expression of collagen III. No correlation was found among glycosaminoglycans concentrations and age, body mass index, frequency of pregnancies, or skin types, but it was observed in higher skin heparan sulfate concentrations in post-bariatric patients who had their weights stabilized for over than 24 months (p = 0.000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abdominal skin of post-bariatric women presented decreased heparan sulfate concentrations and perlecan expression and increased expression of collagen III.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Napoleão de Barros, 715, 4º andar, 04024-002, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. danifveiga@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Daniela Francescato
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Veiga
authors.forename: Rodolpho A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bussolaro
authors.forename: Elsa Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Valquíria P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: João R M
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Elvio B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Neil F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Novo
authors.forename: Helena B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Nader
authors.forename: Lydia M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D000328:Adult; D050110:Bariatric Surgery; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D019812:Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism*; D006497:Heparan Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D024061:Collagen Type III; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D019812:Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans; D006497:Heparan Sulfate; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; C071927:perlecan