Platelet-derived microparticle count and surface molecule expression differ between subjects with and without type 2 diabetes, independently of obesity status

This study investigated the impact of either type 2 diabetes or obesity, separately or in combination, on the absolute amounts of microparticles (MP) and the pathways by which these are associated with either condition. The concentrations of circulating MP derived from platelets (PMP), leukocytes (LMP) and monocytes (MMP), together with their specific activation markers, were compared in 30 subjects who were characterised across 4 cohorts as obese or type 2 diabetes. The subjects with type 2 diabetes had elevated concentrations of total PMP ( P = 0.003), and PMP that were fibrinogen-positive ( P = 0.04), tissue factor-positive ( P