title: Alterations in nitric oxide/cyclic-GMP pathway in nondiabetic siblings of patients with type 2 diabetes.
abstract: In this study, we have compared resistance to insulin-mediated glucose disposal and plasma concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) and cyclic-GMP in healthy volunteers with (n = 35) or without (n = 27) at least one sibling and one parent with type 2 diabetes. The 62 volunteers were further divided into groups of those with normal glucose tolerance or impaired glucose tolerance. Insulin-mediated glucose disposal was quantified by determining the insulin sensitivity index (ISI) in response to a low-dose, constant infusion of insulin (25 mU/kg x h) and glucose (4 mg/kg x min) for 150 min. The mean (+/-SEM) ISI [(mL kg(-1) min(-1)/pmol/L) x 10(3)] was significantly greater in those without a family history (30.3 +/- 2.3) as compared with nondiabetic volunteers with a family history of type 2 diabetes, whether they had normal glucose tolerance (17.0 +/- 7.2) or impaired glucose tolerance (9.5 +/- 1.4). In addition, basal NO levels, evaluated by the measurement of its stable end products [i.e. nitrite and nitrate levels (NO2-/ NO3-)], were significantly higher, and cyclic-GMP levels, its effector messenger, were significantly lower in those with a family history, irrespective of their degree of glucose tolerance, when compared with healthy volunteers without a family history of type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, when the 62 volunteers were analyzed as one group, there was a negative correlation between ISI and NO2-/NO3- levels (r = -0.35; P < 0.005) and a positive correlation between ISI and cyclic-GMP levels (r = 0.30; P < 0.02). These results have shown that alterations of the NO/cyclic-GMP pathway seem to be an early event in nondiabetic individuals with a family history of type 2 diabetes and these changes are correlated with the degree of insulin resistance.
authors.affiliation: IRCSS H. San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Piatti
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zavaroni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valsecchi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Phan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Sandoli
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Solerte
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pozza
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Pontiroli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reaven
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D006152:Cyclic GMP