Effects of heparin and dextran sulphate on the production of collagen and protein in diabetic and non-diabetic human skin fibroblast cultures.

Addition of heparin and dextran sulphate to human skin fibroblasts in cell cultures caused an increase in [3H]-proline incorporation into collagen and total protein in the culture medium by cells derived from nondiabetics. Cells from type 2 diabetic subjects were significantly less affected by dextran sulphate addition, suggesting altered regulatory mechanisms for collagen production in these cells. Addition of chondroitin sulphate caused a dose-dependent increase in labelled collagen, indicating a possible role for this glycosaminoglycan as modulator of collagen deposition.