Acute short-term hyperglycemia impairs platelet receptor expression even in healthy adults in vitro

Platelet function is crucial in intensive care patients. Several factors like hyperglycemia may influence this function. Recently, it was demonstrated that the prevention of hyperglycemia could reduce mortality even in non-diabetic individuals. The aim of the present study was to examine effects of an acute hyperglycemia on platelet receptor expression in non-diabetic healthy individuals in vitro.

Citrated blood samples were drawn from twenty-five healthy blood donors and adjusted to final concentrations of 10 mmol l(-1) and 15 mmol l(-1) glucose, respectively. The control group with blood glucose of 5 mmol l(-1) received no additional glucose. Expression of CD62P, CD41, CD36, and CD42b on the surface of resting or agonist-stimulated platelets was determined by whole blood flow cytometry using fluorescence-labeled monoclonal antibodies. Platelet aggregation in platelet rich plasma was induced with ADP and collagen and recorded using a turbidimetric coagulation analyzer.

Hyperglycemia had no significant influence on the expression of CD62P and CD36. At glucose concentration of 15 mmoles l(-1) the expression of both CD42b and CD41 was decreased in resting platelets a well as in platelets stimulated with 5 microM ADP or 6 microM TRAP-6. The addition of 10 mmoles l(-1) glucose caused a significant inhibition of CD41 expression in ADP-stimulated samples. The results of platelet aggregation showed no significant differences between the groups.

Short term hyperglycemia up to 15 mmoles l(-1) may decrease the expression of CD41 and CD42b, but not that of CD62P and CD36 on platelets in healthy adults. However functional abilities tested by aggregation are not affected.