Influence of insulin and of insulin resistance on platelet and vascular smooth muscle cell function

In this short review, we present the main results obtained in our laboratory in the last 15 years concerning the influence exerted by insulin on platelets and human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). In particular, we discuss: (i) the insulin ability to rapidly activate a constitutive nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in both cell types, with a consequent increase of the two nucleotides guanosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) and adenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), well-known mediators of antiaggregation and vasodilation; (ii) the interplay of insulin with substances able to activate adenylate cyclase in both cell types; (iii) the impairment of the antiaggregating insulin effects in insulin-resistant subjects; (iv) the insulin-induced increase on endothelin in the VSMCs; (v) the insulin ability to slightly stimulate VSMC proliferation.