Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Can Develop Excess Fibrous Material in and Around

Patients with diabetes mellitus can develop excess fibrous material in and around various organs, including the heart and kidneys.This fibrotic growth can reduce effectiveness of function in these organs, eventually leading to their inability to function.The table below shows data collected from a study of heart cells isolated from two groups of mice (one group was normal and the other was diabetic) and cultured under lab conditions.The data show relative levels of mRNA coding for the protein collagen in the two sets of cells. Use these data to explain how the extracellular matrix is involved in the fibrotic growth observed in cardiac tissue in diabetic individuals.