Biochemical abnormalities of the human diabetic glomerular basement membrane.

Since the biochemical composition of the diabetic glomerular basement membrane is still a controversial area, a study was carried out using kidneys from seven diabetic and seven nondiabetic subjects. In diabetic membranes, the glycine, hydroxylysine, glucose, galactose, and hydroxylysine-linked disaccharide unit content was increased together with a decrease in the half-cystine and sialic acid content. These findings support the view of a biochemical alteration in the human diabetic glomerular basement membrane.