Summary
The aim was to evaluate whether high glucose influences the nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic
nucleotide pathway in human platelets via osmotic stress and to clarify the role of
protein kinase C (PKC) in this phenomenon. The study was carried out on 33 healthy
lean male volunteers, aged 28.3±1.3 years. NO synthesis was detected as L-citrulline
production after L-arginine incubation in platelets incubated for 6 min with 22.0
mM D-glucose and isoosmolar concentrations of mannitol, L-glucose and fructose. To
evaluate the influence of PKC, experiments with D-glucose and mannitol were repeated
in the presence of the PKC-beta selective inhibitor LY379196, and NO synthesis was
detected after a 6-min incubation with phorbol 12-mirystate 13-acetate (PMA), a non-selective
PKC activator. Platelet content of guano-sine-3’, 5’-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) and
adenosine-3’, 5’-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) was measured by radio-immunoassay in
platelets incubated with iso-osmolar concentrations of D-glucose, mannitol, L-glucose
and fructose. NO-dependence of cyclic nucleotide enhancements was evaluated by inhibiting
NO synthase and guanylate cyclase. Platelet aggregation to ADP and collagen was evaluated
in Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) in the presence of a 6-min incubation with D-glucose
and mannitol, both without and with LY379196 and the guany-late cyclase inhibitor
(H-[1, 2, 4]Oxadiazolo [4, 3-a]quinoxaline-1-one)(ODQ). Iso-osmolar concentrations
of D-glucose, mannitol, L-glucose and fructose, and PMA increased NO production (p=0.0001).
Effects of D-glucose and mannitol were blunted by LY379196. D-glucose and mannitol
enhanced platelet cGMP and cAMP (p=0.0001) with a mechanism blunted by NO synthase
and guanylate-cyclase inhibition, but did not modify platelet aggregation. In conclusion,
glucose activates the NO/cyclic nucleotide pathway in human platelets with an osmotic
mechanism mediated by PKC-beta.
Keywords
Glucose - platelets - nitric oxide - osmotic stress - protein kinase C