Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Microparticles (MPs) are membrane sheds formed during cell activation or apoptosis and are characteristic to the cell of origin. Microparticles are thought to have procoagulant activity and a potential role in the inflammatory process. They have also been identified as potential cardiovascular risk factor markers. Microparticles are found to be elevated in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Annexin-V is a general apoptosis marker that binds to phosphatidylserine that is expressed on the surface of apoptotic/activated cells and MPs. Endothelial dysfunction is one of the most important features in type 2 diabetes that contributes to the increased cardiovascular risk in this group of patients.

Aim: To compare the MP profile of patients with T2DM and healthy volunteers. Analysis was performed by flow cytometry.

Results: Nine patients with type 2 diabetes (7M, 2F, aged 64.44±0.51, diabetes duration 5.17±43.44 years) treated by diet (n=1) or metformin (n=8) and nine healthy volunteers (7F, 2M, aged 64.44±11.68) participated in the study. MPs were characterised by general cell surface markers and defined as positive events. Platelet (CD42b), leukocyte (CD45), and endothelial (CD106 and CD144) MPs showed a trend to be higher in patients with T2DM however only CD106 reached statistical significance (healthy volunteers, T2DM: platelet derived CD42b MPs: 4705±5363 vs 5302±3719/μl, P=0.79; leukocyte CD45 MPs: 180±178 vs 230±154/μl, P=0.54; endothelial CD106 MPs: 174±115 vs 415±197/μl, P<0.01; endothelial CD144 MPs: 149±125 vs 630±845/μl; P 0.11, overall MPs: 5203±5340 vs 6577±3892/μl, P=0.54).

Conclusion: Patients with type 2 diabetes have elevated number of CD 106 MPs that are recognised as an emerging marker of endothelial cell dysfunction.