Summary
Diabetes mellitus is a disease characterised by hyperglycaemia and associated with
several cardiovascular disorders, including angiopathy and platelet hyperactivity,
which are major causes of morbidity and mortality in type 2 diabetes mellitus. In
type 2 diabetic patients, homo-cysteine levels are significantly increased compared
with healthy subjects. Hyperhomocysteinaemia is an independent risk factor for macro-and
microangiopathy and mortality. The present study is aimed to investigate the effect
of homocysteine on platelet apoptosis. Changes in cytosolic or intraluminal free Ca2+ concentration were determined by fluorimetry. Caspase activity and phosphorylation
of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) were explored by Western blot. Our
results indicate that homocysteine releases Ca2+ from agonist sensitive stores, enhances eIF2α phosphorylation at Ser51 and activates caspase-3 and -9 independently of extracellular Ca2+. Homocysteine induced activation of caspase-3 and -9 was abolished by salubrinal,
an agent that prevents endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis. Homo-cysteine-induced
platelet effects were significantly greater in type 2 diabetics than in healthy subjects.
These findings demonstrate that homocysteine induces ER stress-mediated apoptosis
in human platelets, an event that is enhanced in type 2 diabetic patients, which might
be involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular complications associated with type
2 diabetes mellitus.
Keywords
Homocysteine - ER stress - caspases - apoptosis - diabetes mellitus