Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 4, 2026

Preparation of Washed Human Platelets for Quantitative Metabolic Flux Studies
Published on: January 10, 2025
In vivo thromboxane-dependent platelet activation is persistently enhanced in subjects with impaired glucose
Francesca Santilli1, Francesco Zaccardi2,3, Rossella Liani1
1Department of Medicine and Aging and Center of Aging Science and Translational Medicine (CESI-Met), University of Chieti "G. D'Annunzio" School of Medicine, Chieti, Italy.
Background:
Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Enhanced thromboxane (TX)-dependent platelet activation plays a pivotal role in atherothrombosis and characterizes type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Whether this also pertains to IGT is currently unknown. We investigated whether TXA2 -dependent platelet activation, as reflected by 11-dehydro-TXB2 (TXM) urinary excretion, is comparably abnormal in IGT as in DM, is persistent over long-term follow-up, changes as a function of metabolic disease progression, and is influenced by food intake.
Methods:
We prospectively investigated subjects with IGT (n = 48) and two control groups with DM diagnosed either less than 12 months (n = 60) or 12 months or more (n = 58).
Results:
Baseline TXM excretion was comparable between subjects with IGT and DM, with no evidence of a circadian variation. During a 36-month follow-up, urinary TXM excretion was stable over time in the DM groups, while tended to increase in subjects with IGT. Increasing urinary TXM excretion over time was observed in the subjects who progressed to diabetes vs nonprogressors.
Conclusions:
We conclude that TXA2 -dependent platelet activation was at least as high in IGT as in patients with DM and further increased over time, especially in those who progressed to overt diabetes.
Related Concept Videos
Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose
In addition to accelerating glucose uptake and utilization, insulin has...
Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Biguanides and Glitazones
Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion
Insulin and C-peptide are...

