Glyoxalase enzyme system in human muscular dystrophy.

Glyoxalase I and glyoxalase II activities were determined in skeletal muscle of control subjects and of patients with Duchenne dystrophy, other major forms of muscular dystrophies and certain neuromuscular disorders. The glyoxalase I activity was normal in all diseases examined except in Duchenne and limb girdle types of muscular dystrophy, where it showed a significant moderate decrease. The glyoxalase II activity in normal human muscle was very low, and the activity was unaltered in muscle of patients with Duchenne and other major forms of muscular dystrophies and spinal muscular atrophy. The selective decrease of glyoxalase I activity in recessively inherited muscular dystrophies may have some relevance to some phases of these disease processes.