Glycosaminoglycans of Abdominal Skin After Massive Weight Loss in Post-bariatric Female Patients

• Published in: Obesity surgery Vol. 21; no. 6; pp. 774 - 782
• Main Authors: Veiga, Daniela Francescato, Bussolaro, Rodolpho A., Kobayashi, Elsa Y., Medeiros, Valquíria P., Martins, João R. M., Garcia, Elvio B., Novo, Neil F., Nader, Helena B., Ferreira, Lydia M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer-Verlag 01.06.2011; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abdomen; Adult; Bariatric Surgery; Basic Science Research; Collagen Type III - biosynthesis; Female; Females; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Gastrointestinal surgery; Glycosaminoglycans - analysis; Glycosaminoglycans - metabolism; Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans - metabolism; Heparitin Sulfate - metabolism; Humans; Hyaluronic Acid - metabolism; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Obesity; Skin; Skin - metabolism; Surgery; Weight control; Weight Loss - physiology; Women; Skin; Glycosaminoglycans; Bariatric surgery; Weight loss
• ISSN: 0960-8923; 1708-0428
• DOI: 10.1007/s11695-011-0405-2

Background The number of post-bariatric patients had a significant increase over the last years, and a better understanding of the consequences of massive weight loss on skin is imperative. Despite weight-loss-related changes in collagen and elastin have been reported, less is known about changes in another of the matrix components of the skin, the glycosaminoglycans. The objective of this study is to evaluate abdominal skin glycosaminoglycans concentrations and perlecan and collagen III expression in post-bariatric female patients. Methods Skin tissue samples from the abdomen of lean ( n  = 19) and post-bariatric ( n  = 24) female patients were compared. Sulfated glycosaminoglycans and hyaluronic acid were extracted, characterized and quantified. Perlecan and collagen III expression was assessed by immunofluorescence. Results The major glycosaminoglycans found were dermatan sultafe and hyaluronic acid; the others were found in smaller amounts. The skin of the post-bariatric patients had lower concentrations of heparan sulfate ( p  = 0.002) while hyaluronic acid, dermatan sulfate, and chondroitin sulfate concentrations were similar to the lean women’s skin. Post-bariatric skin showed decreased expression of perlecan and increased expression of collagen III. No correlation was found among glycosaminoglycans concentrations and age, body mass index, frequency of pregnancies, or skin types, but it was observed in higher skin heparan sulfate concentrations in post-bariatric patients who had their weights stabilized for over than 24 months ( p  = 0.000). Conclusion Abdominal skin of post-bariatric women presented decreased heparan sulfate concentrations and perlecan expression and increased expression of collagen III.