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- Title
C-Peptide and Its C-Terminal Fragments Improve Erythrocyte Deformability in Type 1 Diabetes Patients.
- Authors
Hach, Thomas; Forst, Thomas; Kunt, Thomas; Ekberg, Karin; Pfützner, Andreas; Wahren, John
- Abstract
Aims/hypothesis. Data now indicate that proinsulin C-peptide exerts important physiological effects and shows the characteristics of an endogenous peptide hormone. This study aimed to investigate the influence of C-peptide and fragments thereof on erythrocyte deformability and to elucidate the relevant signal transduction pathway. Methods. Blood samples from 23 patients with type 1 diabetes and 15 matched healthy controls were incubated with 6.6 nM of either human C-peptide, C-terminal hexapeptide, C-terminal pentapeptide, a middle fragment comprising residues 11-19 of C-peptide, or randomly scrambled Cpeptide. Furthermore, red blood cells from 7 patients were incubated with C-peptide, penta- and hexapeptides with/without addition of ouabain, EDTA, or pertussis toxin. Erythrocyte deformability was measured using a laser diffractoscope in the shear stress range 0.3-60 Pa. Results. Erythrocyte deformability was impaired by 18-25% in type 1 diabetic patients compared to-matched controls in the physiological shear stress range 0.6-12 Pa (P < .01-.001). C-peptide, penta- and hexapeptide all significantly improved the impaired erythrocyte deformability of type 1 diabetic patients, while the middle fragment and scrambled C-peptide had no detectable effect. Treatment of erythrocytes with ouabain or EDTA completely abolished the C-peptide, penta-and hexapeptide effects. Pertussis toxin in itself significantly increased erythrocyte deformability. Conclusion/interpretation. C-peptide and its C-terminal fragments are equally effective in improving erythrocyte deformability in type 1 diabetes. The C-terminal residues of C-peptide are causally involved in this effect. The signal transduction pathway is Ca2+-dependent and involves activation of red blood cell Na+,K+-ATPase.
- Subjects
DIABETES; PROINSULIN; C-peptide; PEPTIDE hormones; ERYTHROCYTE deformability
- Publication
Experimental Diabetes Research, 2009, p1
- ISSN
1687-5214
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1155/2008/730594