Treweeke AT, Winterburn TJ, Mackenzie I, Barrett F, Barr C, Rushworth GF, Dransfield I, MacRury SM, Megson IL. N-Acetylcysteine inhibits platelet-monocyte conjugation in patients with type 2 diabetes with depleted intraplatelet glutathione: a randomised controlled trial.
Diabetologia 2012;
55:2920-8. [PMID:
22935960 PMCID:
PMC3464379 DOI:
10.1007/s00125-012-2685-z]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2012] [Accepted: 07/09/2012] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS
The aim of this study was to determine whether oral dosing with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) increases intraplatelet levels of the antioxidant, glutathione (GSH), and reduces platelet-monocyte conjugation in blood from patients with type 2 diabetes.
METHODS
In this placebo-controlled randomised crossover study, the effect of oral NAC dosing on platelet-monocyte conjugation and intraplatelet GSH was investigated in patients with type 2 diabetes (eligibility criteria: men or post-menopausal women with well-controlled diabetes (HbA(1c) < 10%), not on aspirin or statins). Patients (n = 14; age range 43-79 years, HbA(1c) = 6.9 ± 0.9% [52.3 ± 10.3 mmol/mol]) visited the Highland Clinical Research Facility, Inverness, UK on day 0 and day 7 for each arm of the study. Blood was sampled before and 2 h after oral administration of placebo or NAC (1,200 mg) on day 0 and day 7. Patients received placebo or NAC capsules for once-daily dosing on the intervening days. The order of administration of NAC and placebo was allocated by a central office and all patients and research staff involved in the study were blinded to the allocation until after the study was complete and the data fully analysed. The primary outcome for the study was platelet-monocyte conjugation.
RESULTS
Oral NAC reduced platelet-monocyte conjugation (from 53.1 ± 4.5% to 42.5 ± 3.9%) at 2 h after administration and the effect was maintained after 7 days of dosing. Intraplatelet GSH was raised in individuals with depleted GSH and there was a negative correlation between baseline intraplatelet GSH and platelet-monocyte conjugation. There were no adverse events.
CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION
The NAC-induced normalisation of intraplatelet GSH, coupled with a reduction in platelet-monocyte conjugation, suggests that NAC might help to reduce atherothrombotic risk in type 2 diabetes.
FUNDING
Chief Scientist Office (CZB/4/622), Scottish Funding Council, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and European Regional Development Fund.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
isrctn.org ISRCTN89304265.
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