Hyperglycemia induces PAI-1 gene expression in adipose tissue by activation of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway

We examined whether acute in vivo increases in either plasma glucose or insulin concentrations stimulate PAI-1 gene expression in fat tissue. We studied chronically catheterized unstressed and awake, lean ( 300 g, n=12) and obese ( 450 g, n=12) Sprague–Dawley rats. Hyperglycemia ( 18mM) was induced for 3 h by glucose infusion during a pancreatic clamp (somatostatin inhibited endogenous insulin secretion). Compared with equivalent saline infusion, hyperglycemia induced a 6–7 fold increase in PAI-1 gene expression in both lean and obese rats (P<0.001). When the rate of cellular glucose uptake was matched during a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic ( 60 μU/ml) clamp, PAI-1 gene expression in both obese and lean rats was proportionately and significantly increased (P<0.001). We further examined whether induction of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway would mimic the effects of hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia on PAI-1 gene expression. Indeed, infusion of glucosamine (GlcN, 30 μmol/kg/min), induced a 3–4 fold increase (P<0.01) in PAI-1 gene expression in both lean and obese animals. While obese rats had a four times greater fat mass then the lean rats, PAI-1 gene expression remained significantly higher when expressed as per gram fat. Our results support the hypothesis that increased glucose uptake induces PAI-1 gene expression in adipose tissue, probably through the activation of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway. These findings may account for some of the fibrinolytic alterations seen in obese type 2 diabetic humans.