Type 2 Diabetes: Platelets and Long-Term Metabolic Control as Estimated from Glycosylated Haemoglobin (HbA1c)

Abstract

In type 2 diabetes, platelets are likely affected by impaired long-term glycaemic control, but such pathophysiological links are poorly understood. This study thus compares platelet reactivity (i.e. agonist-evoked platelet reactions) in vitro with glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), a measure commonly used for monitoring long-term metabolic control of type 2 diabetes. Elders with type 2 diabetes (n = 35) were divided according to HbA1c into groups (HbA1c—low and high) consisting of 17 and 18 subjects, respectively. For estimating mitochondria disintegration, a flow cytometer determined mitochondrial transmembrane potentials after whole blood agonist stimulation. The activating agents used were α-thrombin (10 μM) and collagen (0.15 μg/mL). The same apparatus analysed the fibrinogen receptor activity, lysosomal exocytosis (surface lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1), and platelet procoagulant characteristics (membrane-attached annexin V) after stimulation. In type 2 diabetes, after in vitro agonist stimulation, platelet mitochondria injury was higher in the HbA1c-high group. The fibrinogen receptor, lysosomal secretion, and the creation of procoagulant platelets proved to be uninfluenced by HbA1c.

Keywords

annexin V - α_IIbβ₃ activity - type 2 diabetes - HbA1c - lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 - mitochondria - platelets - platelet reactivity

Raw Data

Data are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Authors' Contribution

M.E.: Conceived the research, performed sample and data collection, and did the practical flow cytometry work.

M.O.: Formulated and partly financed the investigation and supervised its findings.

P.J.: Devised and partially financed the study, carried out data analysis, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Subsequently, all authors revised the manuscript critically for intellectual content.

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 07. Oktober 2023

Angenommen: 08. Januar 2024

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
08. Januar 2026

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