ABSTRACT
Objective To observe secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) levels in serum and foot muscle tissue of patients with type 2 diabetic foot (DF).Methods All participants were divided into four groups with 40 cases in each group, including type 2 diabetic patients without (DMA) and with (DMB) lower limb arterial sclerosis and peripheral neuropathy, DF group, and normal control (NC) group.The muscle tissues of foot from DF group (n =6) and NC group (n =6) were taken.Serum SPARC level was measured with ELISA.RT-PCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry were used to examine SPARC mRNA and protein expressions in the foot muscle.Results Serum SPARC levels were higher in DMA and DMB groups compared with NC and DF groups[(1 040.48 ±212.12 and 1 068.36 ± 165.45 vs 841.93 ± 144.57 and 835.43 ± 188.37) ng/L, P＜ 0.01].There was no significant difference in serum SPARC level between DF and NC groups or DMA and DMB groups (P＞0.05).The expression levels of SPARC mRNA and protein in the foot muscle were higher in DF compared with NC group (P＜0.05).Conclusion SPARC mRNA and protein expressions in foot muscle tissue are higher in DF group compared with control group, indicating that SPARC may participate in the repair and healing of damaged muscle tissue of diabetic foot.