Platelet FcγRIIA expression is associated with the α₂ integrin C807T gene polymorphism in type 2 diabetes

Abstract

“Patelet” FcγRIIA is stably overexpressed in type 2 diabetes and may also play a role in collagen-mediated platelet activation. Platelet surface integrin α₂β₁–collagen interaction is an early step associated with platelet adhesion and activation and plays an important role in arterial thrombosis. The objective of this study was to characterize the relationship in diabetes and non-diabetes platelets between FcγRIIA expression and a polymorphism associated with arterial thrombotic events, polymorphism C807T on the gene encoding α₂β₁. Platelet flow cytometry and allele-specific PCR revealed a significant correlation in type 2 diabetes between low platelet FcγRIIA expression and the 807TT genotype that is associated with increased platelet α₂β₁ receptor density. We conclude that uni- or bi-directional modulation of surface expression may exist between the platelet FcγRIIA receptor and a α₂β₁ thrombogenic polymorphism that could play a role in platelet sensitivity to collagen in type 2 diabetes.

• Platelets
• collagen
• arterial thrombosis
• stroke
• diabetes mellitus