title: Taurine and osmoregulation: platelet taurine content, uptake, and release in type 2 diabetic patients.
abstract: In this study, plasma and platelet taurine content and fluxes were determined in 38 type 2 diabetic patients and in 26 healthy control subjects. Taurine levels in diabetic patients were significantly lower than in control subjects both in plasma (32.1 v 48.6 micromol/L, P = .000) and platelets (148 v 183 nmol/mg protein, P = .043). Platelet taurine uptake in diabetic patients was significantly reduced (321.2 v 524.9 pmol total taurine 10(8) platelet(-1) min(-20), P = .000), whereas taurine release increased in comparison to healthy controls (38.7 v 29.5% of platelet 3H taurine at the start of incubation, P = .000). These results may reflect modified systems of taurine carriers or a compensatory mechanism in response to an increase of other organic osmolytes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemical Sciences and Clinical Biochemistry, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Calpona
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caponetti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Benedetto
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cucinotta
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Di Giorgio
mesh_terms: D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013654:Taurine / Q000378:metabolism*; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance
chemical_list: D013654:Taurine