Do platelets cause inflammation in people with diabetes?

Diabetes driven immunometabolic reprogramming of blood platelets (Dr Rebecca Sagar)

Diabetes is a complex disorder characterized by too much sugar (glucose) in the blood. People with diabetes are at high risk of developing heart and circulatory disease, partly because of inflammation which damages blood vessels. Understanding how and why the inflammation occurs is essential for learning how to treat and prevent both diabetes and associated heart problems. Platelets are the most abundant cells in the blood and play a central role in clotting. In recent years, scientists have discovered that platelets are also involved in inflammation and the immune response. Professor Khalid Naseem at the University of Leeds has evidence to suggest that platelets are a contributor of inflammation in diabetes. Professor Naseem will lead a study to see if the high blood sugar levels in diabetes cause platelets to release a chemical called interleukin 1 beta that causes inflammation. Researchers will also investigate the relationship between platelet energy metabolism and their role in regulating the immune response in people with or without diabetes. This research could lead to new medicines being developed that specifically target platelets and prevent the onset of heart and circulatory disease in people with diabetes.