PAI-1 activity, but not fibrinogen or von Willebrand factor, is inversely related to LDL particle size in type 2 diabetes.
BACKGROUND
Levels of fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor (vWF) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) have been associated with small low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles. However, it is not clear whether these associations are independent of visceral adiposity or other components of the metabolic syndrome such as triglycerides or insulin resistance.


METHODS
Visceral adipose tissue (VAT; CT-scan), fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag), PAI-1 activity and different metabolic parameters such as total cholesterol (chol), HDL-chol, triglycerides, insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment; HOMA-IR) were determined in 41 women and 78 men with type 2 diabetes. LDL particle size was assessed by polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis.


RESULTS
PAI-1 activity was inversely related to LDL particle size after adjustment for age and body mass index (BMI) (r=-0.28; p=0.006) or age and VAT (r=-0.26; p=0.01), but not after adjustment for age and HOMA-IR (r=-0.15; p=0.148) or age and triglycerides (r=-0.04; p=0.679). In multiple regression analysis, LDL particle size did not independently determine PAI-1 activity levels. Fibrinogen and vWF:Ag did not seem to be related to LDL size.


CONCLUSIONS
PAI-1 activity levels, in contrast to fibrinogen and vWF:Ag, seem to be related to the small LDL phenotype in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, this relationship was not independent of insulin resistance or triglycerides.
Mertens
Ilse
I
Department of Diabetology, Metabolism and Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.
Lemieux
Isabelle
I
Verrijken
An
A
Després
Jean-Pierre
JP
Van Gaal
Luc F
LF
D000368:Aged; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006946:Hyperinsulinism / Q000097:blood; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010316:Particle Size; D010641:Phenotype; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism*
D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; C051321:SERPINE1 protein, human; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D005340:Fibrinogen