Thrombin activity and platelet microparticle formation are increased in type 2 diabetic platelets: a potential correlation with caspase activation.

Diabetics suffer from many complications including a prothrombotic condition. Activated platelet membrane provides an anchor, phosphatidylserine, for the attachment of the prothrombinase complex, which allows increased thrombin formation. This study aimed to further elucidate the interrelationship between coagulation proteins and activated platelets in type 2 diabetic blood. We found that there was a significant increase (30 x) in thrombin activity in the type 2 diabetic (ZDF) blood as compared to age-matched (ZL) controls (p<0.001). There was also a significant increase in the number of platelet microparticles in the type 2 diabetic rat compared to the lean control (p<0.001). Further, there were significant increases in caspase-3, -6, and -8 activities in the type 2 diabetic rats as compared to the lean controls (p<0.05). The combination of increased thrombin activity, increased PMP formation and increased caspase activity may contribute to the hypercoagulability of the diabetic blood. These results give more insight into the mechanisms underlying the interrelationship between diabetic platelets and coagulation proteins causing a prothrombotic condition in this patient population at increased risk from thromboembolic events.

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