title: Are the vascular complications of diabetes mellitus preceded by an altered thromboxane/prostacyclin plasmatic ratio?
abstract: Although many data regarding the biosynthesis of thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin in diabetes mellitus have recently appeared in the literature, it is not clear whether an imbalance between the generation of the two prostaglandins might be connected to the vascular complications of diabetes. In the present review we have tried to emphasize the most significant aspects of these studies and we have focused on alterations of platelet prostacyclin receptors and on the effects of circulating immune complexes on platelets of diabetics. It is likely that studies on the release of platelet derived growth factor as well as more precise definitions of its action on vessel wall cells leading to a massive release of prostacyclin, will permit us to ascertain whether an alteration in prostaglandin ratio is linked to the genesis of the vascular complications in diabetics.
mesh_terms: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology*; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000503:physiopathology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000097:blood; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004727:Endothelium / Q000503:physiopathology; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology; D044006:Receptors, Epoprostenol; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D011982:Receptors, Prostaglandin / Q000378:metabolism; D013928:Thromboxane A2 / Q000097:blood*; D013929:Thromboxane B2 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D044006:Receptors, Epoprostenol; D011982:Receptors, Prostaglandin; D013929:Thromboxane B2; D013928:Thromboxane A2; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D011464:Epoprostenol; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor