ABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to determine the correlation between the expression of tissue factor (TF) and the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGEs) and vascular complications in patients with longstanding uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (T2D). TF and RAGE mRNAs as well as TF antigen and activity were investigated in 21 T2D patients with and without vascular complications. mRNA expression was assessed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in nonstimulated and advanced glycation end product (AGE) albumin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). TF antigen expression was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and TF activity by a modified prothrombin time assay. Basal RAGE mRNA expression was 0.2 +/- 0.06 in patients with complications and 0.05 +/- 0.06 patients without complications (P =.004). Stimulation did not cause any further increase in either group. TF mRNA was 0.58 +/- 0.29 in patients with complications and 0.21 +/- 0.18 in patients without complications (P =.003). Stimulation resulted in a nonsignificant increase in both groups. Basal TF activity (U/10(6) PBMCs) was 18.4 +/- 13.2 in patients with complications and 6.96 +/- 5.2 in patients without complications (P =.003). It increased 3-fold in both groups after stimulation (P =.001). TF antigen (pg/10(6) PBMCs) was 33.7 +/- 28.6 in patients with complications, 10.4 +/- 7.8 in patients without complications (P =.02). Stimulation tripled TF antigen in both groups of patients (P =.001). The RAGE/TF axis is up-regulated in T2D patients with vascular complications as compared to patients without complications. This suggests a role for this axis in the pathogenesis of vascular complications in T2D.