Aims/hypothesis: Diabetes mellitus is associated with extensive vascular pathology, yet little is known about its long-term effects on liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs). Potential diabetic changes in LSECs are important because of the role played by fenestrations in the LSECs in hepatic disposition of lipoproteins.
Materials and methods: Surgical liver biopsies for electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry were obtained from baboons with long-standing streptozotocin-induced, insulin-treated diabetes mellitus and compared with those from age-matched control animals.
Results: There was an increase in the thickness of LSECs (170 +/- 17 vs 123 +/- 10 nm, p < 0.01). Fenestrations in LSECs, as determined by overall porosity, were markedly reduced (1.4 +/- 0.1% vs 2.6 +/- 0.2%, p < 0.01). Increased numbers of stellate cells were seen on electron microscopy, and this finding was corroborated by increased smooth muscle actin expression. Diabetes mellitus was also associated with increased endothelial production of von Willebrand factor and caveolin-1.
Conclusions/interpretation: Diabetes mellitus in the non-human primate is associated with marked changes in LSECs, including a reduction in fenestrations. Such changes provide an additional and novel mechanism for impaired hepatic lipoprotein clearance and post-prandial hyperlipidaemia in diabetes mellitus.