Heterogeneity of the insulin-receptor interaction in lipoatropic diabetes

Abstract

[125I]Insulin binding to its receptors was studied on circulating cells from 11 patients (8 females and 3 males) with lipoatropic diabetes. The patients ranged in age from 9–54 yr. All were insulin resistant, as evidenced by fasting hyperinsulinemia and insulin tolerance tests. Nine patients were evaluated by specific [125II]insulin binding to monocytes. Three different patterns of receptor abnormalities were observed: 3 patients demonstrated decreased binding due to decreased binding capacity, 2 patients revealed normal tracer binding with decreased receptoraffinity, and 4 patients had normal or increased insulin binding. [125II]Insulin binding to erythrocytes in 9 cases demonstrated simila..