Immunofluorescence studies of skeletal muscle extracellular membranes in diabetes mellitus

Skeletal muscle from 34 insulin-dependent diabetic patients and 20 age-matched controls was examined by immunofluorescent microscopy. Significantly increased staining of capillary and muscle basement membranes of diabetics was seen for IgG, albumin, and fibrin. The immunofluorescent pattern was identical with that observed using heterologous antibasement membrane antiserum, indicating that these proteins were present within these basement membranes. No differences were detected between males and females or between kidney-transplanted and non-transplanted diabetics. No correlation was noted between intensity of staining and duration of diabetes. The presence of certain serum proteins within vascular and nonvascular basement membranes in diabetics is not restricted to the kidney and may reflect widespread alterations in extracellular membranes that permit entrapment of these proteins.