Collagen synthesis and collagenase activity in dermal fibroblasts from patients with diabetes and digital sclerosis.

Collagen production and collagenase activity were measured in dermal fibroblast cultures obtained from eight patients with diabetes with digital sclerosis and three normal controls. Total collagen synthesis in patients with diabetes was reduced in comparison with controls. DNA replication was also reduced in patients with diabetes. No differences in collagenase activity were noted. Our results suggest that, in contrast to systemic sclerosis, increased synthesis does not contribute to the collagen accumulation of diabetic digital sclerosis. Decreased degradation related to nonenzymatic glucosylation of collagen is a more likely mechanism.