Insulin-specific binding to erythrocytes in 6 girls with acanthosis nigricans

Red blood cell insulin receptors in health and disease

CONTENTS

Structure and characteristics of erythrocyte insulin receptor. Red blood cell age and insulin receptors. Insulin receptors in human disease states. Obesity. Chronic renal failure. Acanthosis nigricans. Miscellaneous disease states. Insulin receptors in children. Insulin receptors in women during pregnancy. Insulin binding and other hormones. Comparison of biosynthetic insulin, pancreatic human insulin and porcine insulin binding to erythrocytes. Effect of exercise on insulin binding to red blood cells of normal human volunteers. Miscellaneous insulin binding studies. Insulin internalization and degradation. Insulin and erythrocyte metabolism. Summary and conclusion.

Acanthosis nigricans

Acanthosis nigricans (AN) is a well-defined skin disorder characterized by velvety hyperkeratotic macules that can be accompanied by various degrees of pigmentation. Other manifestations of AN are marked papillomatous growths and deep skin markings. These changes can affect the entire skin but preferentially are observed in the axilla, neck, genitals, and oral cavity. The presence of AN around and within the oral cavity as well as its well-known association with internal malignant conditions, especially adenocarcinoma of the stomach, and/or its association with insulin resistance, has prompted this review article, which emphasizes the oral manifestations of AN.