Oxidative protein modification and chromosomal instability among type 2 diabetics in Osogbo, Nigeria

ABSTRACT Background: The abundance of proteins in human system has made it a major target for glucose auto-oxidation. Likewise, chromosomal instability, describes an oxidative DNA damage that can be accelerated by chronic hyperglycemia. This work investigates the extent and contribution of diabetes oxidation/stress on protein carbonylation and chromosomal instability among 120 type 2 diabetics (60 with vascular complications and 60 without any vascular complications) and 50 apparently healthy control subjects. Anthropometric data and fasting venous blood specimen was collected from each participant for glyceamic control, antioxidants, protein oxidation, oxidative DNA damage parameters and chromosomal aberration assay using standard methods. Results: Diabetics without vascular complications shows a significant (p = 0.0000) difference in all measured parameters except 8-OHdG (p = 0.0764) as compared to control subjects. However, diabetics with vascular complications show significant (p = 0.0000) difference of all measured parameters than those without vascular complications. Conclusion: Our study findings indicate an increased formation of protein carbonyl contents, and chromosomal aberration in diabetics especially among those with vascular complications, likewise, diabetes with vascular complications is associated with increased DM disease activity. Thus, protein oxidative biomarker can serve as a therapeutic tool in the management of diabetes cases while increased chromosomal aberration may indicate an increased risk for cancer among diabetics.