Abnormalities of platelet-derived growth factors in insulin-dependent diabetes.

Platelets are involved in homeostasis of the vascular wall at various levels. An important feature of this involvement is the potential for platelet proliferation. Platelets from normal subjects contain platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), epithelial growth factor (EGF), and transforming growth factor. We have detected the presence of an excessive growth-promoting activity in the heated supernatant fraction derived from the platelets of young, insulin-dependent diabetics. This activity is most pronounced when measured in cultures of smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. This activity may be further separated into cationic and anionic fractions by ion exchange chromatography of the platelet-rich supernatant. The cationic factor corresponds to PDGF, whereas the anionic factor appears to be identical to EGF. Chronic, intensive insulin therapy normalizes the excessive growth-promoting activity of platelets from diabetics. Further studies are needed to evaluate the differential release of those growth-promoting factors found in platelets of normal subjects and in patients with vascular disease.