Hypoglycemia stimulates thrombin-induced PGI2 production by cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

The effect of a low concentration of glucose on prostacyclin (PGI2) production by human umbilical vein endothelial cells in culture (HUVEC) was examined. When HUVEC were cultured for 24 h in a medium containing various concentrations of glucose (0.26, 0.63, or 1.29 mg/ml), thrombin-induced PGI2 production was increased in the cells exposed to low concentrations of glucose; the increase was inversely proportional to the glucose concentration and was seen at all concentrations of thrombin tested. Thus, hypoglycemia may increase the production of PGI2 by endothelial cells in vivo, leading to a compensatory vasodilation with an increase in blood flow to increase the delivery of glucose.