Thrombin generation in type 2 diabetes with albuminuria and macrovascular disease

Dysregulated coagulation system links to inflammation in diabetic kidney disease

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a significant contributor to end-stage renal disease worldwide. Despite extensive research, the exact mechanisms responsible for its development remain incompletely understood. Notably, patients with diabetes and impaired kidney function exhibit a hypercoagulable state characterized by elevated levels of coagulation molecules in their plasma. Recent studies propose that coagulation molecules such as thrombin, fibrinogen, and platelets are interconnected with the complement system, giving rise to an inflammatory response that potentially accelerates the progression of DKD. Remarkably, investigations have shown that inhibiting the coagulation system may protect the kidneys in various animal models and clinical trials, suggesting that these systems could serve as promising therapeutic targets for DKD. This review aims to shed light on the underlying connections between coagulation and complement systems and their involvement in the advancement of DKD.

Protease-Activated Receptor 1-Mediated Damage of Podocytes in Diabetic Nephropathy

There is clinical evidence that increased urinary serine proteases are associated with the disease severity in the setting of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Elevation of serine proteases may mediate [Ca2+]i dynamics in podocytes through the protease-activated receptors (PARs) pathway, including associated activation of nonspecific cation channels. Cultured human podocytes and freshly isolated glomeruli were used for fluorescence and immunohistochemistry stainings, calcium imaging, Western blot analysis, scanning ion conductance microscopy, and patch clamp analysis. Goto-Kakizaki, Wistar, type 2 DN (T2DN), and a novel PAR1 knockout on T2DN rat background rats were used to test the importance of PAR1-mediated signaling in DN settings. We found that PAR1 activation increases [Ca2+]i via TRPC6 channels. Both human cultured podocytes exposed to high glucose and podocytes from freshly isolated glomeruli of T2DN rats had increased PAR1-mediated [Ca2+]i compared with controls. Imaging experiments revealed that PAR1 activation plays a role in podocyte morphological changes. T2DN rats exhibited a significantly higher response to thrombin and urokinase. Moreover, the plasma concentration of thrombin in T2DN rats was significantly elevated compared with Wistar rats. T2DNPar1-/- rats were embryonically lethal. T2DNPar1+/- rats had a significant decrease in glomerular damage associated with DN lesions. Overall, these data provide evidence that, during the development of DN, elevated levels of serine proteases promote an excessive [Ca2+]i influx in podocytes through PAR1-TRPC6 signaling, ultimately leading to podocyte apoptosis, the development of albuminuria, and glomeruli damage.

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

Increased urinary serine proteases are associated with diabetic nephropathy. During the development of diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes, the elevation of serine proteases could overstimulate protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1). PAR1 signaling is involved in the development of DN via TRPC6-mediated intracellular calcium signaling. This study provides fundamental knowledge that can be used to develop efficient therapeutic approaches targeting serine proteases or corresponding PAR pathways to prevent or slow the progression of diabetes-associated kidney diseases.

Thrombin, a Key Driver of Pathological Inflammation in the Brain

Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), are major contributors to death and disability worldwide. A multitude of evidence suggests that neuroinflammation is critical in neurodegenerative disease processes. Exploring the key mediators of neuroinflammation in AD, a prototypical neurodegenerative disease, could help identify pathologic inflammatory mediators and mechanisms in other neurodegenerative diseases. Elevated levels of the multifunctional inflammatory protein thrombin are commonly found in conditions that increase AD risk, including diabetes, atherosclerosis, and traumatic brain injury. Thrombin, a main driver of the coagulation cascade, has been identified as important to pathological events in AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, recent evidence suggests that coagulation cascade-associated proteins act as drivers of inflammation in the AD brain, and studies in both human populations and animal models support the view that abnormalities in thrombin generation promote AD pathology. Thrombin drives neuroinflammation through its pro-inflammatory activation of microglia, astrocytes, and endothelial cells. Due to the wide-ranging pro-inflammatory effects of thrombin in the brain, inhibiting thrombin could be an effective strategy for interrupting the inflammatory cascade which contributes to neurodegenerative disease progression and, as such, may be a potential therapeutic target for AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Plasma heparin cofactor II activity is inversely associated with albuminuria and its annual deterioration in patients with diabetes

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

Thrombin exerts various pathophysiological functions by activating protease-activated receptors (PARs). Recent data have shown that PARs influence the development of glomerular diseases including diabetic kidney disease (DKD) by regulating inflammation. Heparin cofactor II (HCII) specifically inactivates thrombin; thus, we hypothesized that low plasma HCII activity correlates with DKD development, as represented by albuminuria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Plasma HCII activity and spot urine biomarkers, including albumin and liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP), were determined as the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) and the urine L-FABP-to-creatinine ratio (uL-FABPCR) in 310 Japanese patients with diabetes mellitus (176 males and 134 females). The relationships between plasma HCII activities and those DKD urine biomarkers were statistically evaluated. In addition, the relationship between plasma HCII activities and annual uACR changes was statistically evaluated for 201/310 patients (115 males and 86 females).

RESULTS

The mean plasma HCII activity of all participants was 93.8 ± 17.7%. Multivariate-regression analysis including confounding factors showed that plasma HCII activity independently contributed to the suppression of the uACR and log-transformed uACR values (P = 0.036 and P = 0.006, respectively) but not uL-FABPCR (P = 0.541). In addition, plasma HCII activity significantly and inversely correlated with annual uACR and log-transformed uACR increments after adjusting for confounding factors (P = 0.001 and P = 0.014, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The plasma HCII activity was inversely and specifically associated with glomerular injury in patients with diabetes. The results suggest that HCII can serve as a novel predictive factor for early-stage DKD development, as represented by albuminuria.

Hypofibrinolysis in type 2 diabetes and its clinical implications: from mechanisms to pharmacological modulation

A prothrombotic state is a typical feature of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Apart from increased platelet reactivity, endothelial dysfunction, hyperfibrinogenemia, and hypofibrinolysis are observed in T2DM. A variety of poorly elucidated mechanisms behind impaired fibrinolysis in this disease have been reported, indicating complex associations between platelet activation, fibrin formation and clot structure, and fibrinolysis inhibitors, in particular, elevated plasminogen antigen inhibitor-1 levels which are closely associated with obesity. Abnormal fibrin clot structure is of paramount importance for relative resistance to plasmin-mediated lysis in T2DM. Enhanced thrombin generation, a proinflammatory state, increased release of neutrophil extracellular traps, elevated complement C3, along with posttranslational modifications of fibrinogen and plasminogen have been regarded to contribute to altered clot structure and impaired fibrinolysis in T2DM. Antidiabetic agents such as metformin and insulin, as well as antithrombotic agents, including anticoagulants, have been reported to improve fibrin properties and accelerate fibrinolysis in T2DM. Notably, recent evidence shows that hypofibrinolysis, assessed in plasma-based assays, has a predictive value in terms of cardiovascular events and cardiovascular mortality in T2DM patients. This review presents the current data on the mechanisms underlying arterial and venous thrombotic complications in T2DM patients, with an emphasis on hypofibrinolysis and its impact on clinical outcomes. We also discuss potential modulators of fibrinolysis in the search for optimal therapy in diabetic patients.

Thrombin, a Mediator of Coagulation, Inflammation, and Neurotoxicity at the Neurovascular Interface: Implications for Alzheimer's Disease

The societal burden of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is staggering, with current estimates suggesting that 50 million people world-wide have AD. Identification of new therapeutic targets is a critical barrier to the development of disease-modifying therapies. A large body of data implicates vascular pathology and cardiovascular risk factors in the development of AD, indicating that there are likely shared pathological mediators. Inflammation plays a role in both cardiovascular disease and AD, and recent evidence has implicated elements of the coagulation system in the regulation of inflammation. In particular, the multifunctional serine protease thrombin has been found to act as a mediator of vascular dysfunction and inflammation in both the periphery and the central nervous system. In the periphery, thrombin contributes to the development of cardiovascular disease, including atherosclerosis and diabetes, by inducing endothelial dysfunction and related inflammation. In the brain, thrombin has been found to act on endothelial cells of the blood brain barrier, microglia, astrocytes, and neurons in a manner that promotes vascular dysfunction, inflammation, and neurodegeneration. Thrombin is elevated in the AD brain, and thrombin signaling has been linked to both tau and amyloid beta, pathological hallmarks of the disease. In AD mouse models, inhibiting thrombin preserves cognition and endothelial function and reduces neuroinflammation. Evidence linking atrial fibrillation with AD and dementia indicates that anticoagulant therapy may reduce the risk of dementia, with targeting thrombin shown to be particularly effective. It is time for “outside-the-box” thinking about how vascular risk factors, such as atherosclerosis and diabetes, as well as the coagulation and inflammatory pathways interact to promote increased AD risk. In this review, we present evidence that thrombin is a convergence point for AD risk factors and as such that thrombin-based therapeutics could target multiple points of AD pathology, including neurodegeneration, vascular activation, and neuroinflammation. The urgent need for disease-modifying drugs in AD demands new thinking about disease pathogenesis and an exploration of novel drug targets, we propose that thrombin inhibition is an innovative tactic in the therapeutic battle against this devastating disease.

Integrated Datasets of Proteomic and Metabolomic Biomarkers to Predict Its Impacts on Comorbidities of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the current study is to accomplish a relative exploration of the biological roles of differentially dysregulated genes (DRGs) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The study aimed to determine the impact of these DRGs on the biological pathways and networks that are related to the associated disorders and complications in T2DM and to predict its role as prospective biomarkers.

METHODS

Datasets obtained from metabolomic and proteomic profiling were used for investigation of the differential expression of the genes. A subset of DRGs was integrated into IPA software to explore its biological pathways, related diseases, and their regulation in T2DM. Upon entry into the IPA, only 94 of the DRGs were recognizable, mapped, and matched within the database.

RESULTS

The study identified networks that explore the dysregulation of several functions; cell components such as degranulation of cells; molecular transport process and metabolism of cellular proteins; and inflammatory responses. Top disorders associated with DRGs in T2DM are related to organ injuries such as renal damage, connective tissue disorders, and acute inflammatory disorders. Upstream regulator analysis predicted the role of several transcription factors of interest, such as STAT3 and HIF alpha, as well as many kinases such as JAK kinases, which affects the gene expression of the dataset in T2DM. Interleukin 6 (IL6) is the top regulator of the DRGs, followed by leptin (LEP). Monitoring the dysregulation of the coupled expression of the following biomarkers (TNF, IL6, LEP, AGT, APOE, F2, SPP1, and INS) highlights that they could be used as potential prognostic biomarkers.

CONCLUSION

The integration of data obtained by advanced metabolomic and proteomic technologies has made it probable to advantage in understanding the role of these biomarkers in the identification of significant biological processes, pathways, and regulators that are associated with T2DM and its comorbidities.

Translational science in albuminuria: a new view of de novo albuminuria under chronic RAS suppression

The development of de novo albuminuria during chronic renin–angiotensin system (RAS) suppression is a clinical entity that remains poorly recognized in the biomedical literature. It represents a clear increment in global cardiovascular (CV) and renal risk that cannot be counteracted by RAS suppression. Although not specifically considered, it is clear that this entity is present in most published and ongoing trials dealing with the different forms of CV and renal disease. In this review, we focus on the mechanisms promoting albuminuria, and the predictors and new markers of de novo albuminuria, as well as the potential treatment options to counteract the excretion of albumin. The increase in risk that accompanies de novo albuminuria supports the search for early markers and predictors that will allow practising physicians to assess and prevent the development of de novo albuminuria in their patients.

Treatment with high-dose n-3 PUFAs has no effect on platelet function, coagulation, metabolic status or inflammation in patients with atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

Despite numerous studies on cardioprotective effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), there is limited evidence for n-3 PUFA-mediated effects, especially at its higher dose, on cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes (DM2) and established atherosclerosis.

PURPOSE

To investigate the effect of daily treatment with a higher dose (2 g) of n-3 PUFAs on platelet function, coagulation parameters, fibrin clot properties, markers of systemic inflammation and metabolic status, in patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease and DM2 who receive optimal medical therapy.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-center study, in which thrombin generation (plasma thrombogenic potential from automated thrombogram), fibrin clot properties (plasma fibrin clot permeability; lysis time), platelet aggregation (light transmission aggregometry with adenosine diphosphate and arachidonic acid used as agonists), HbA1c, insulin level, lipid profiles, leptin and adiponectin levels, as well as markers of systemic inflammation (i.e., hsCRP, IL-6, TNF-α, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and myeloperoxidase) were determined at baseline and at 3 months after treatment with 2 g/day of n-3 PUFAs (n = 36) or placebo (n = 38). Moreover, we assessed serum fatty acids of the phospholipid fraction by gas chromatography both at baseline and at the end of the study.

RESULTS

Majority of patients were treated with optimal medical therapy and achieved recommended treatment targets. Despite higher serum levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (by 204%; p < 0.001) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (by 62%; p < 0.0001) in n-3 PUFA group at the end of treatment no changes in platelet aggregation, thrombin generation, fibrin clot properties or markers of systemic inflammation were observed. No intergroup differences in the insulin, HbA1c and lipid levels were found at the end of the study. There was no change in adiponectin and leptin in interventional group, however leptin increased in control group (p = 0.01), therefore after study period leptin levels were lower in the interventional group (p = 0.01). Additionally, resolvin D1 did not differ between interventional and control group.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, our study demonstrated that in patients with long-standing, well-controlled DM2 and atherosclerotic disease the treatment with a high dose of n-3 PUFAs (namely, 1 g/day of EPA and 1 g/day of DHA for 3 months) does not improve coagulation, metabolic, and inflammatory status when measured with the specified tests. The study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov; identifier: NCT02178501. Registration date: April 12, 2014.

Procoagulant activity in patients with combined type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease: No effects of long-term exercise training

We investigated the effects of 12-month exercise training on hypercoagulability in patients with combined type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease. Associations with severity of disease were further explored. Patients ( n = 131) were randomized to exercise training or a control group. Blood was collected at inclusion and after 12 months. Tissue factor, free and total tissue factor pathway inhibitor, prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (F1 + 2) and D-dimer were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and ex vivo thrombin generation by the calibrated automated thrombogram assay. Tissue factor and ex vivo thrombin generation increased from baseline to 12 months ( p < 0.01, all), with no significant differences in changes between groups. At baseline, free and total tissue factor pathway inhibitor significantly correlated to fasting glucose ( p < 0.01, both) and HbA1c ( p < 0.05, both). In patients with albuminuria ( n = 34), these correlations were strengthened, and elevated levels of D-dimer, free and total tissue factor pathway inhibitor ( p < 0.01, all) and decreased ex vivo thrombin generation ( p < 0.05, all) were observed. These results show no effects of exercise training on markers of hypercoagulability in our population with combined type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease. The association between poor glycaemic control and tissue factor pathway inhibitor might indicate increased endothelial activation. More pronounced hypercoagulability and increased tissue factor pathway inhibitor were demonstrated in patients with albuminuria.

Protease-activated receptors in kidney disease progression

Protease-activated receptors (PARs) are members of a well-known family of transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Four PARs have been identified to date, of which PAR1 and PAR2 are the most abundant receptors, and have been shown to be expressed in the kidney vascular and tubular cells. PAR signaling is mediated by an N-terminus tethered ligand that can be unmasked by serine protease cleavage. The receptors are activated by endogenous serine proteases, such as thrombin (acts on PARs 1, 3, and 4) and trypsin (PAR2). PARs can be involved in glomerular, microvascular, and inflammatory regulation of renal function in both normal and pathological conditions. As an example, it was shown that human glomerular epithelial and mesangial cells express PARs, and these receptors are involved in the pathogenesis of crescentic glomerulonephritis, glomerular fibrin deposition, and macrophage infiltration. Activation of these receptors in the kidney also modulates renal hemodynamics and glomerular filtration rate. Clinical studies further demonstrated that the concentration of urinary thrombin is associated with glomerulonephritis and type 2 diabetic nephropathy; thus, molecular and functional mechanisms of PARs activation can be directly involved in renal disease progression. We briefly discuss here the recent literature related to activation of PAR signaling in glomeruli and the kidney in general and provide some examples of PAR1 signaling in glomeruli podocytes.

A new measure for in vivo thrombin activity in comparison with in vitro thrombin generation potential in patients with hyper- and hypocoagulability

The thrombin generation potential is an in vitro measure for the capacity of an individual to generate thrombin and recognized as a reflection of a hypo- or hypercoagulable status. Measurement of the in vivo thrombin activity, however, may be of clinical significance. We evaluated a new assay for in vivo thrombin activity and compared it to the in vitro thrombin generation potential in patients with hemophilia A (N = 15), oral anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation (AF) (N = 20), subjects with active cancer (N = 21), and healthy volunteers (N = 10). Thrombin activity was measured with a commercially available oligonucleotide enzyme capture assay in argatroban-stabilized plasma samples. Thrombin generation potential was determined with a commercially available assay in citrated plasma. Thrombin activity was detected in 17 (30.4 %) patients (mean 0.30 mU/ml [SD 0.80]), and in 39 patients (69.6 %) no thrombin activity was present. In cancer patients, thrombin activity was detected in 11 patients (52 %) (range 0.14–5.00 mU/ml) and was particularly increased in 3 patients with vessel-invasive tumors (1.2, 1.5, and 5.0 mU/ml). In AF patients, thrombin activity was only measureable in two patients (10 %) (recent hematoma [0.4 mU/ml] and recent ischemic stroke [1.5 mU/ml]). Thrombin activity was detected in four patients (27 %) with hemophilia (range 0.29–1.75 mU/ml), all of whom had received a factor VIII infusion on the same day. Thrombin activity did not correlate with any of the parameters of the thrombin generation potential. Only patients in acute procoagulatory states or after clotting factor replacement had elevated in vivo thrombin activity, which was, however, unrelated to the in vitro thrombin generation potential.

Disease Severity Correlates with Thrombotic Capacity in Experimental Nephrotic Syndrome

Thrombotic disease, a major life-threatening complication of nephrotic syndrome, has been associated with proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia severity. However, it is not fully understood how disease severity correlates with severity of the acquired hypercoagulopathy of nephrotic syndrome. Without this knowledge, the utility of proteinuria and/or hypoalbuminemia as biomarkers of thrombotic risk remains limited. Here, we show that two well established ex vivo hypercoagulopathy assays, thrombin generation and rotational thromboelastometry, are highly correlated with proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia in the puromycin aminonucleoside and adriamycin rat models of nephrotic syndrome. Notably, in the puromycin aminonucleoside model, hyperfibrinogenemia and antithrombin deficiency were also correlated with proteinuria severity, consistent with reports in human nephrotic syndrome. Importantly, although coagulation was not spontaneously activated in vivo with increasing proteinuria, vascular injury induced a more robust thrombotic response in nephrotic animals. In conclusion, hypercoagulopathy is highly correlated with nephrotic disease severity, but overt thrombosis may require an initiating insult, such as vascular injury. Our results suggest that proteinuria and/or hypoalbuminemia could be developed as clinically meaningful surrogate biomarkers of hypercoagulopathy to identify patients with nephrotic syndrome at highest risk for thrombotic disease and potentially target them for anticoagulant pharmacoprophylaxis.

Tissue factor pathways linking obesity and inflammation

Obesity is a major cause for a spectrum of metabolic syndrome-related diseases that include insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and steatosis of the liver. Inflammation elicited by macrophages and other immune cells contributes to the metabolic abnormalities in obesity. In addition, coagulation activation following tissue factor (TF) upregulation in adipose tissue is frequently found in obese patients and particularly associated with diabetic complications. Genetic and pharmacological evidence indicates that TF makes significant contributions to the development of the metabolic syndrome by signaling through G protein-coupled protease activated receptors (PARs). Adipocyte TF-PAR2 signaling contributes to diet-induced obesity by decreasing metabolism and energy expenditure, whereas hematopoietic TF-PAR2 signaling is a major cause for adipose tissue inflammation, hepatic steatosis and inflammation, as well as insulin resistance. In the liver of mice on a high fat diet, PAR2 signaling increases transcripts of key regulators of gluconeogenesis, lipogenesis and inflammatory cytokines. Increased markers of hepatic gluconeogenesis correlate with decreased activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a known regulator of these pathways and a target for PAR2 signaling. Clinical markers of a TF-induced prothrombotic state may thus indicate a risk in obese patient for developing complications of the metabolic syndrome.

MicroRNA-146a decreases high glucose/thrombin-induced endothelial inflammation by inhibiting NAPDH oxidase 4 expression

Diabetes is associated with hyperglycemia and increased thrombin production. However, it is unknown whether a combination of high glucose and thrombin can modulate the expression of NAPDH oxidase (Nox) subtypes in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs). Moreover, we investigated the role of a diabetes-associated microRNA (miR-146a) in a diabetic atherothrombosis model. We showed that high glucose (HG) exerted a synergistic effect with thrombin to induce a 10.69-fold increase in Nox4 mRNA level in HAECs. Increased Nox4 mRNA expression was associated with increased Nox4 protein expression and ROS production. Inflammatory cytokine kit identified that the treatment increased IL-8 and IL-6 levels. Moreover, HG/thrombin treatment caused an 11.43-fold increase of THP-1 adhesion to HAECs. In silico analysis identified the homology between miR-146a and the 3′-untranslated region of the Nox4 mRNA, and a luciferase reporter assay confirmed that the miR-146a mimic bound to this Nox4 regulatory region. Additionally, miR-146a expression was decreased to 58% of that in the control, indicating impaired feedback restraint of HG/thrombin-induced endothelial inflammation. In contrast, miR-146a mimic transfection attenuated HG/thrombin-induced upregulation of Nox4 expression, ROS generation, and inflammatory phenotypes. In conclusion, miR-146a is involved in the regulation of endothelial inflammation via modulation of Nox4 expression in a diabetic atherothrombosis model.

High coagulation factor levels and low protein C levels contribute to enhanced thrombin generation in patients with diabetes who do not have macrovascular complications

AIMS

A prothrombotic state characterized by activation of the coagulation system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of vascular complications in diabetes mellitus. Recently, a thrombin generation assay was introduced as a laboratory assessment of global hemostatic potential. We used this thrombin generation assay to investigate global hemostatic potential in patients with diabetes who did not have macrovascular complications.

METHODS

This study was a prospective case-control study comparing 89 patients with diabetes with 49 healthy controls. The thrombin generation assay was conducted with the calibrated automated thrombogram using tissue factor with or without the addition of thrombomodulin, giving values for lag time, endogenous thrombin potential, and peak thrombin.

RESULTS

Patients with diabetes showed hypercoagulability, as detected by the thrombin generation assay, compared with healthy controls. Correspondingly, high levels of coagulation factors (II, V, VII, VIII, and X) and low levels of anticoagulant (protein C) were major contributing factors in this hypercoagulability. Interestingly, a high blood glucose level was correlated with shortened clotting time, reflecting the association between hyperglycemia and hypercoagulability. Patients who were taking statins or angiotensin receptor blockers showed decreased endogenous thrombin potential ratio and increased protein C levels, suggesting relative hypocoagulability.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with diabetes showed hypercoagulability, high levels of coagulation factors, and low levels of protein C. Further study is required to investigate how this hemostatic potential may be used to guide physicians toward more effective management of hemostatic complications.

Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats exhibit hypercoagulability and accelerated thrombus formation in the Arterio-Venous shunt model of thrombosis

INTRODUCTION

Diabetes is a significant risk factor for thrombosis. The present study aimed at assessing coagulability, platelet reactivity, and thrombogenicity of the diabetic female Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rat model and its relevance in studying antithrombotic mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The basal coagulant state in ZDF rats was evaluated by clotting times, thromboelastography, and thrombin generation assay. A 14-day treatment with dapagliflozin in ZDF rats was pursued to investigate if glycemic control can improve coagulability. Thrombus formation in the Arterio-Venous (A-V) shunt model and the FeCl3-induced arterial thrombosis model was studied, with the antithrombotic effect of apixaban in the former model further investigated.

RESULTS

ZDF rats exhibited significantly shortened clotting times, enhanced thrombin generation, and decreased fibrinolysis at baseline. Effective glycemic control achieved with dapagliflozin did not improve any of these parameters. ZDF rats displayed accelerated thrombus formation and were amenable to apixaban treatment in the A-V shunt model albeit with less sensitivity than normal rats. ZDF rats exhibited less platelet aggregation in response to ADP, collagen and PAR-4, and attenuated thrombotic response in the FeCl3 model.

CONCLUSIONS

ZDF rats are at a chronic hypercoagulable and hypofibrinolytic state yet with compromised platelet reactivity. They display accelerated and attenuated thrombosis in the A-V shunt and FeCl3 model of thrombosis, respectively. Results shed new light on the pathophysiology of the ZDF rat model and illustrate its potential value in translational research on anticoagulant agents in diabetics. Caution needs to be exerted in utilizing this model in assessing antiplatelet mechanisms in diabetes-associated atherothrombosis.

Thrombin generation in Cushing's Syndrome: do the conventional clotting indices tell the whole truth?

Cushing's Syndrome (CS) is associated with an increased mortality, where hypercoagulability seems to have a crucial role in both arterial and venous thrombosis. Parameters of in vitro thrombin generation (TG) such as lag time, peak thrombin and endogenous thrombin potential (ETP), that describe the time until thrombin burst, the peak amount of TG and the total amount of thrombin generated, respectively as well as classical clotting markers were evaluated in 33 CS patients compared to both a group of 28 patients matched for the features of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and 31 healthy individuals. CS and MetS patients had shorter lag time (p < 0.0001), higher peak and ETP (p < 0.0001) than healthy controls, though lag time was less shortened in CS (p < 0.0001) respect to MetS group. Prothrombin time (PT) was increased (p < 0.0001) in both CS and MetS patients, while partial thromboplastin time (PTT) was shorter (p < 0.0001) in CS compared to both MetS and healthy group (p < 0.0001). Factor VIII (FVIII), Antithrombin (AT), protein C and S were increased only in CS patients (p < 0.0001). lag time, AT and FVIII correlated to night salivary cortisol (r = + 0.59; p = 0.0005, r = + 0.40; p = 0.003, r = + 0.40; p = 0.04, respectively); PTT correlated inversely to urinary free cortisol (r = -0.45; p = 0.009). BMI correlated negatively to lag time (r = -0.40; p = 0.0001) and positively to peak and ETP (r = + 0.34; p = 0.001, r = + 0.28; p = 0.008, respectively). Obese and diabetic patients had shorter lag time (p = 0.0005; p = 0.0002, respectively), higher ETP (p = 0.0006; p = 0.007, respectively) and peak (p = 0.0003; p = 0.0005, respectively) as well as a more prolonged PT (p = 0.04; p = 0.009, respectively). Hypertensive individuals had higher ETP (p = 0.004), peak (p = 0.0008) and FVIII (p = 0.001). Our findings confirm a prothrombotic state in both CS and MetS patients, though lag time was less shortened in CS. The high levels of endogenous physiological anticoagulants, could possibly represent a protective mechanism against hypercoagulability seen in CS patients.

A meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies identifies ORM1 as a novel gene controlling thrombin generation potential

Genetic variations at the ORM1 locus and concentrations of the encoded protein associate with thrombin generation. These findings may guide the development of novel antithrombotic treatments.

Daily intake of vitamin D- or calcium-vitamin D-fortified Persian yogurt drink (doogh) attenuates diabetes-induced oxidative stress: evidence for antioxidative properties of vitamin D

BACKGROUND

Both poor vitamin D status and oxidative stress (OS) have been independently associated with late diabetic complications, including cardiovascular disease (CVD). The present study aimed to examine the effect of daily intake of vitamin D alone or in combination with calcium as a fortified Persian yogurt drink (doogh) on OS over 12 weeks.

METHODS

Ninety patients with type 2 diabetes aged 30-50 years from both sexes were randomly allocated to one of the three groups to receive two 250-mL bottles of doogh a day, which was either plain (PD; containing 150 mg per 250 mL of calcium and no detectable vitamin D), vitamin D-fortified (DD; containing 150 mg of calcium + 500 IU vitamin D per 250 mL) or calcium-vitamin D-fortified (CDD; 250 mg od calcium + 500 IU vitamin D per 250 mL).

RESULTS

Although mean (SD) serum concentrations of protein carbonyl significantly decreased in both DD and CDD groups [-2.07 (4.39) nm, P = 0.015 and -4.4 (7.64) nm, P = 0.003, respectively], the change in PD group was not significant [-0.54 (6.96) nm, P = 0.674]. A similar pattern was observed for cardiac myeloperoxidase [PD: -19.4 (75.9) μg L(-1) , P = 0.173; DD: -21.8 (54.2) μg L(-1) , P = 0.035, CDD: -48.5 (76.9) μg L(-1) , P = 0.002]. Superoxide dismutase increased significantly only in DD and CDD [56.9 (74.0) U L(-1) , P < 0.001 and 51.6 (119.9) U L(-1) , P = 0.025, respectively]. Changes of serum advanced glycation end-products showed a significant between-group difference among PD, DD and CDD [239.4 (388.4) U L(-1) , -58.1 (147.6) U L(-1) and -143.7 (475.9) U L(-1)  × 10(3) , respectively, P = 0.003], which remained significant after controlling for changes of fasting serum glucose (P = 0.013) and glycated haemoglobin (P = 0.015).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the present study demonstrated an OS attenuating effect of vitamin D. However, extra calcium did not convey additional benefit.