This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pandolfi, A. Articles by Consoli, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pandolfi, A. Articles by Consoli, A. Related Collections Pathophysiology Fibrinolysis Type 2 diabetes Other Vascular biology

(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2001;21:1378.)
© 2001 American Heart Association, Inc.

Thrombosis

Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Type 1 Is Increased in the Arterial Wall of Type II Diabetic Subjects

A. Pandolfi; D. Cetrullo; R. Polishuck; M. M. Alberta; A. Calafiore; G. Pellegrini; E. Vitacolonna; F. Capani; A. Consoli

From the Dipartimento di Medicina e Scienze dell’ Invecchiamento, Università di Chieti, Chieti, Italy, and the Consorzio Mario Negri Sud (R.P.), Santa Maria Imbaro, Italy.

Reprint requests to Prof Agostino Consoli, MD, Cattedra di Fisiopatologia Endocrina, Edificio Lettere, IV Livello, V Dente, Università d’Annunzio, Via dei Vestini, 1, I-66100 Chieti, Italy. E-mail consoli{at}unich.it

Abstract—— Plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) increases in diabetes, and this might contribute to decreased fibrinolysis and accelerated atherosclerosis. Increased PAI-1 levels in the vessel wall could decrease local fibrinolysis and elevate thrombus formation and the unfavorable evolution of atherosclerotic plaques. High glucose increases PAI-1 synthesis in arterial wall cells in culture, and aortic wall PAI-1 levels have been found to be elevated in diabetic animals. However, arterial wall PAI-1 levels have not been investigated in diabetic subjects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of diabetes on PAI-1 levels in the arterial wall. Blood samples and small tissue specimens from the mammary artery were obtained from 11 diabetic and 10 nondiabetic subjects who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery. PAI-1 antigen localization in the arterial wall was obtained by immunohistochemistry and was read by laser scanning confocal microscopy; plasma fibrinolytic activity was measured by lysis of fibrin plates; and PAI-1 activity was assessed by a chromogenic method. PAI-1–related immunofluorescence was increased in the arterial wall of diabetic patients, whereas plasma fibrinolysis was reduced. These data provide evidence that diabetes is associated with increased PAI-1 in the arterial wall. This might be an important factor for increased cardiovascular risk and unfavorable plaque evolution in diabetes.

Key Words: diabetes mellitus • coronary disease • fibrinolysis • arteries • plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1