ARE FREE FATTY-ACIDS RELATED TO PLASMA PLASMINOGEN-ACTIVATOR INHIBITOR-1 IN ANDROID OBESITY

Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) levels are elevated in obese insulin-resistant subjects, However the mechanism underlying increase d PAI-1 levels is unknown, To determine the impact of diabetes on PAI- 1 levels and its possible relationship to insulin resistance, hyperins ulinemic euglycemic clamp studies were performed in nine lean control subjects, nine non-diabetic obese subjects and eight obese patients wi th NIDDM, Fasting plasma PAI-1 levels were 4.0 to 4.7 fold higher in t he two obese groups than in the control group, During the 40 mU/m(2) x min insulin infusion, suppression of FFA concentration was correlated with fasting plasma PAI-1 levels in both obese non-diabetic and obese NIDDM subjects, It is concluded that (1) obesity rather than diabetes itself plays a major role for the increased PAI-1 levels in NIDDM; (2 ) resistance to the antilipolytic effect of insulin, resulting in incr eased FFA concentrations, may participate in producing elevated PAI-1 levels in android obese subjects.