title: Platelet-monocyte aggregates are independently associated with occurrence of carotid plaques in type 2 diabetic patients.
abstract: Recent evidence suggests important roles for platelet activation in the progression of atherosclerosis. We have recently shown that P-selectin expression or the presence of platelet-monocyte aggregates, a well-characterized marker of platelet activation, is associated with carotid atherosclerosis in the general population. It is not clear, however, whether platelet activation is also associated with carotid atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes. In the present study, we measured circulating levels of platelet-monocyte aggregates in 120 patients with type 2 diabetes and 120 age- and gender-matched non-diabetic subjects, and examined their association with carotid atherosclerosis determined by arterial ultrasound. The percentage of platelet-monocyte aggregates was analyzed by CD41-positivity determined by whole-blood flow cytometry. Diabetic subjects (7.73 +/- 4.04%, mean +/- SD) showed significantly higher percentages of platelet-monocyte aggregates than non-diabetic subjects (6.03 +/- 4.38%). The percentage of these aggregates was significantly and positively correlated with HbA(1c) in both diabetic and non-diabetic subjects, with the association independent of other clinical factors. Logistic multiple regression analyses revealed that platelet-monocyte aggregates were significantly associated with the presence of carotid plaques independent of the status of glycemic control in diabetic subjects. Thus, an increase in platelet-monocyte aggregation in type 2 diabetic patients appears to be involved in the pathophysiology of carotid atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Molecular Medicine, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuhito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shoji
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koyama
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukumoto
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maeno
authors.forename: Hisayo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Kayo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shinohara
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Emoto
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shoji
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inaba
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishizawa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000473:pathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose