Levels of carbonyl groups in plasma proteins of type 2 diabetes mellitus subjects

Carbonyl groups result from protein oxidation and their level in tissues and plasma is a relatively stable marker of oxidative damage. Carbonyl content of plasma proteins in 43 type 2 diabetic subjects, 30-87 years of age (25 males and 18 females) and in 20 age-matched healthy controls (31-89 years of age, 12 males and 8 females) was evaluated with 2,4-dinitro-phenyl-hydrazine method. In both groups, lipids, tocopherols (HPLC) and glycated hemoglobin (HPLC) were studied. Fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin and lipids were significantly higher in the diabetic group; carbonyl content and α-tocopherol were slightly, but not significantly higher in the diabetic group (1.06 ± 0.03 vs. 0.97 ± 0.04 nmol/mg protein, 27.07 ± 2.82 vs. 31.55 ± 2.11 μmol/l, respectively). Significant relationships between age and lipids, α-tocopherol and proteins were found in controls, but not in diabetics. Alpha-tocopherol correlated with lipids in both groups; glycated hemoglobin, a marker of glycemic control, was related to lipids, α-tocopherol and protein carbonyl groups in diabetics, while only the correlation with carbonyls was found in controls. These results suggest that impaired glycemic control is connected to protein oxidation. Glycation cascade also releases free radicals, becoming responsible for further oxidative attacks. In conclusion, increased oxidative stress, if any, in the diabetic group, is doubtlessly induced by hyperglycemia, and the tocopherols are not seriously affected by a worsening of the metabolic control.