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Microparticles as Potential Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Disease

Abstracts

Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease is a choice of great relevance because of its impact on health. Some biomarkers, such as microparticles derived from different cell populations, have been considered useful in the assessment of cardiovascular disease. Microparticles are released by the membrane structures of different cell types upon activation or apoptosis, and are present in the plasma of healthy individuals (in levels considered physiological) and in patients with different pathologies. Many studies have suggested an association between microparticles and different pathological conditions, mainly the relationship with the development of cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, the effects of different lipid-lowering therapies have been described in regard to measurement of microparticles. The studies are still controversial regarding the levels of microparticles that can be considered pathological. In addition, the methodologies used still vary, suggesting the need for standardization of the different protocols applied, aiming at using microparticles as biomarkers in clinical practice.

Cardiovascular Diseasesv; Biomarkers, Pharmacological / analysis; Cell-Derived Microparticles; Atherosclerosis / prevention & control


A prevenção primária da doença cardiovascular constitui uma opção de grande relevância pelos seus impactos na saúde. Alguns biomarcadores têm sido considerados úteis na avaliação da doença cardiovascular, dentre eles micropartículas originadas de diferentes populações de células. Micropartículas são estruturas liberadas pela membrana de diferentes tipos celulares após ativação ou apoptose, presentes tanto no plasma de indivíduos saudáveis (níveis considerados fisiológicos) quanto em portadores de diferentes doenças. Muitos estudos têm sugerido uma associação entre micropartículas e diferentes condições patológicas, destacando-se a relação com o desenvolvimento das doenças cardiovasculares. Além disso, têm sido descritos os efeitos de diferentes terapias hipolipemiantes na mensuração de micropartículas. Os estudos ainda são controversos quanto aos níveis de micropartículas que possam ser considerados patológicos, e os métodos utilizados ainda são variados, o que sugere a necessidade da padronização dos diferentes protocolos utilizados, visando à utilização de micropartículas como biomarcadores úteis na prática clínica.

Doenças cardiovasculares; Biomarcadores Farmacológicos / análise; Micropartículas Derivadas de Células; Aterosclerose / prevenção & controle


Introduction

Microparticles (MP) are defined as a population of vesicles derived from different cell types (Table 1) after activation or apoptosis, measuring from 50 nm to 1000 nm, and containing cell material, such as proteins, mRNA and lipoproteins, which are fundamental to the identification of those vesicles by use of different techniques, such as flow cytometry1Mallat Z, Benamer H, Hugel B, Benessiano J, Steg PG, Freyssinet JM, et al. Elevated levels of shed membrane microparticles with procoagulant potential in the peripheral circulating blood of patients with acute coronary syndromes. Circulation. 2000;101(8):841-3.. All blood cells produce MP, the greatest amount being released by platelets, platelet MP (PMP), corresponding to 70%-90% of the total amount of MP in the plasma of healthy individuals2Vasina EM, Cauwenberghs S, Staudt M, Feige MA, Weber C, Koenen RR, et al. Aging- and activation-induced platelet microparticles suppress apoptosis in monocytic cells and differentially signal to proinflammatory mediator release. Am J Blood Res. 2013;3(2):107-23.

Shah MD, Bergeron AL, Dong JF, Lopez JA. Flow cytometric measurement of microparticles: pitfalls and protocol modifications. Platelets. 2008;19(5):365-72.
-4Berckmans RJ, Neiuwland R, Boing AN, Romijn FP, Hack CE, Stark A. Cell derived microparticles circulate in healthy humans and support low grade thrombin generation. Thromb Haemost. 2001;85(4):639-46..

Table 1
Antigens on the surface of microparticles derived from platelets, endothelium and monocytes

Until the 1990s, no biological importance had been given to MP, which were considered inert particles resulting from cell destruction or only markers of apoptosis. In 1996, however, Raposo et al.5Raposo G, Nijman HW, Stoorvogel W, Liejendekker R, Harding CV, Melief CJ, et al. B lymphocytes secrete antigen-presenting vesicles. J Exp Med. 1996;183(3):1161-72. suggested that MP played an important role in adaptative immune response. Since then, several studies have shown the importance of MP as vectors of intracellular exchange of biological information, by use of identification, characterization and quantification of MP in several situations, such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, infarction, depression, cancer, HIV and renal failure.

As the atherosclerotic process develops, monocytes accumulate lipoproteins and change into cholesterol-rich macrophages, which undergo apoptosis, releasing a high amount of lipids to the extracellular medium, causing a vicious cycle of inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis of endothelial cells or endothelial erosion (Figure 1). This culminates in atherothrombotic outcomes, such as myocardial infarction or ischemic cerebral vascular accident, which result from the contact of inner plaque substances with blood, producing immediate coagulation and consequent total and sudden obstruction of the vessel6Nomura S, Kanazawa S, Fukuhara S. Effects of efonidipine on platelet and monocyte activation markers in hypertensive patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Hum Hypertens. 2002;16(8):539-47..

Figure 1
Representação ilustrativa de algumas interações celulares no decorrer da formação do ateroma.

Healthy individuals and those with different diseases have MP in their plasma7Hoyer FF, Nickenig G, Werner N. Microparticles - messenger of biological information. J Cell Mol Med. 2010;14(9):2250-6.. Inflammatory stimuli to the release of MP include Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukine 6 (IL-6) and interleukine 1 (IL-1β). After activation, the cells change their asymmetrical conformation, exposing phosphatidylserine, an aminophospholipid responsible for high procoagulant capacity8Faure V, Dou L, Sabatier F, Cerini C, Sampol J, Berland Y, et al. Elevation of circulating endothelial microparticles in patients with chronic renal failure. J Thromb Haemost. 2006;4(3):566-73..

Microparticles derived from different cell populations

Platelet microparticles

The PMP are the most abundant in human plasma4Berckmans RJ, Neiuwland R, Boing AN, Romijn FP, Hack CE, Stark A. Cell derived microparticles circulate in healthy humans and support low grade thrombin generation. Thromb Haemost. 2001;85(4):639-46.,9Joop K, Berckmans RJ, Nieuwland R, Berkhout J, Romijn FP, Hack CE, et al. Microparticles from patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and sepsis support coagulation through multiple mechanisms. Thromb Haemost. 2001;85(5):810-20.. Several studies have shown the relationship between those PMP and blood coagulation1010 Toth B, Liebhardt S, Steinig K, Ditsch N, Rank A, Bauerfeind I, et al. Platelet-derived microparticles and coagulation activation in breast cancer patients. Thromb Haemost. 2008;100(4):663-9., inflammatory processes1111 Williams MS, Rogers HL, Wang NY, Ziegelstein RC. Do platelet-derived microparticles play a role in depression, inflammation, and acute coronary syndrome? Psychosomatics. 2014;55(3):252-60., thrombosis and tumor progression1212 Mezouar S, Mege D, Darbousset R, Farge D, Debourdeau P, Dignat-George F, et al. Involvement of platelet-derived microparticles in tumor progression and thrombosis. Semin Oncol. 2014;41(3):346-58., as well as the interaction between leukocytes and endothelial cells1313 Kim HK, Song KS, Chung JH, Lee KR, Lee SN. Platelet microparticles induce angiogenesis in vitro. Br J Haematol. 2004;124(3):376-84..

However, some studies have suggested that PMP have an important role in tissue regeneration, because they are strongly associated with angiogenesis1414 Hayon Y, Shai E, Varon D, Leker RR. The role of platelets and their microparticles in rehabilitation of ischemic brain tissue. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2012;11(7):921-5.. Some authors have shown that, in vitro, PMP promote budding of aortic rings by activating the signaling pathways of PI3-kinase and Extracellular Signal- Regulated Kinase (ERK)1313 Kim HK, Song KS, Chung JH, Lee KR, Lee SN. Platelet microparticles induce angiogenesis in vitro. Br J Haematol. 2004;124(3):376-84., in addition to promoting postischemic revascularization1515 Brill A, Dasheysky O, Rivo J, Gozal Y, Varon D. Platelet derived microparticles induce angiogenesis and stimulate post-ischemic revascularization. Cardiovasc Res. 2005;67(1):30-8..

Endothelial microparticles

Endothelial MP (EMP) represent a smaller population of MP in plasma, but have been associated with cardiovascular disease, mainly endothelial dysfunction8Faure V, Dou L, Sabatier F, Cerini C, Sampol J, Berland Y, et al. Elevation of circulating endothelial microparticles in patients with chronic renal failure. J Thromb Haemost. 2006;4(3):566-73.. Similarly to PMP, some studies have suggested a relationship between EMP and angiogenesis1616 Tual-Chalot S, Gagnadoux F, Trzepizur W, Priou P, Andriantsitohaina R, Martinez MC. Circulating microparticles from obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients induce endothelin-mediated angiogenesis. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2014;1842(2):202-7., tumor growth1717 Wang CC, Tseng CC, Hsiao CC, Chang HC, Chang LT, Fang WF, et al. Circulating endothelial-derived activated microparticle: a useful biomarker for predicting one-year mortality in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:173401. and increased oxidative stress1818 Cheng F, Wang Y, Li J, Su C, Wu F, Xia WH, et al. Berberine improves endothelial function by reducing endothelial microparticles-mediated oxidative stress in humans. Int J Cardiol. 2013;167(3):936-42..

Some studies have shown the importance of EMP in the proliferation and differentiation of endothelial progenitor cells, which are essential for vascular regeneration1919 Hristov M, Erl W, Linder S, Weber PC. Apoptotic bodies from endothelial cells enhance the number and initiate differentiation of human endothelial progenitor cells in vitro. Blood. 2004;104(9):2761-6., indicating a possible protective function related to vascular regeneration, repair and protection2020 Dignat-George F, Boulanger CM. The many faces of endothelial microparticles. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2011;31(1):27-33..

Mezentnev et al.2121 Mezentsev A, Merks RM, O'Riordan E, Chen J, Mendelev N, Goligorsky MS, et al. Endothelial microparticles affect angiogenesis in vitro: role of oxidative stress. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2005;289(3):H1106-14. have assessed in vitro different patterns of angiogenesis (cell division rate, capillary formation and apoptosis of endothelial cells), comparing physiological levels of EMP present in healthy individuals (between 103 and 104 EMP/mL)2222 Bretelle F, Sabatier F, Desprez D, Camoin L, Grunebaum L, Combes V, et al. Circulating microparticles: a marker of procoagulant state in normal pregnancy and pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia or intrauterine growth restriction. Thromb Haemost. 2003;89(3):486-92.,2323 Jimenez JJ, Jy W, Mauro LM, Horstman LL, Soderland C, Ahn YS. Endothelial microparticles released in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura express von Willebrand factor and markers of endothelial activation. Br J Haematol. 2003;123(5):896-902. and pathological concentrations (present in individuals with cardiovascular disease, 105 EMP/mL).2424 Preston RA, Jy W, Jimenez JJ, Mauro LM, Horstman LL, Valle M, et al. Effects of severe hypertension on endothelial and platelet microparticles. Hypertension. 2003;41(2):211-7.

25 VanWijk MJ, Boer K, Berckmans RJ, Meijers JC, van der Post JA, Sturk A, et al. Enhanced coagulation activation in preeclampsia: the role of APC resistance, microparticles and other plasma constituents. Thromb Haemost. 2002;88(3):415-20.
-2626 VanWijk MJ, Nieuwland R, Boer K, van der Post JA, VanBavel E, and Sturk A. Microparticle subpopulations are increased in preeclampsia: possible involvement in vascular dysfunction? Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2002;187(2):450-6. Those authors have reported that pathological levels of EMP affected all parameters associated with angiogenesis in a directly proportional manner to the concentration of EMP. Those same authors had previously shown that 105 EMP/mL impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation, which was not seen with 104 EMP/mL2727 Brodsky SV, Zhang F, Nasjletti A, Goligorsky MS. Endothelium derived microparticles impair endothelial function in vitro. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2004;286(5):H1910-5..

Monocyte microparticles

Similarly to PMP, the MP originated from monocytes, monocyte MP (MPM), can contain procoagulant substances and be related to endothelial dysfunction2828 Wen B, Combes V, Bonhoure A, Weksler BB, Couraud PO, Grau GE. Endotoxin-induced monocytic microparticles have contrasting effects on endothelial inflammatory responses. Plos One. 2014;9(3):e91597. and sepsis2929 Nieuwland R, Berckmans RJ, McGregor S, Böing AN, Romijn FP, Westendorp RG, et al. Cellular origin and procoagulant properties of microparticles in meningococcal sepsis. Blood. 2000;95(3):930-5.. The study by Wang et al.3030 Wang JG, Williams JC, Davis BK, Jacobson K, Doerschuk CM, Ting JP, et al. Monocytic microparticles activate endothelial cells in an IL-1ß-dependent manner. Blood. 2011;118(8):2366-74. has shown that MPM can activate endothelial cells, because MPM contain IL-1β, which enhances the inflammatory process.

Hoyer et al.3131 Hoyer FF, Giesen MK, França CN, Lütjohann D, Nickenig G, Werner N. Monocytic microparticles promote atherogenesis by modulating inflammatory cells in mice. J Cell Mol Med. 2012;16(11):2777-88. have assessed the role of MPM in vascular inflammation and reported that the treatment of ApoE -/- mice with MPM promoted the formation of atherosclerotic plaque in the mice and increased the accumulation of macrophages in the vascular wall. Those authors have suggested an important interaction between MPM and inflammatory cells in the atherosclerotic disease of ApoE -/- mice.

Microparticles and coronary disease

Several studies have suggested a direct relationship between the increase in MP and development of coronary disease. Augustine et al.3232 Augustine D, Ayers LV, Lima E, Newton L, Lewandowski AJ, Davis EF, et al. Dymanic release and clearance of circulating microparticles during cardiac stress. Circ Res. 2014;114(1):109-13., assessing patients undergoing dobutamine stress echocardiography, have reported an elevation in MP derived from different cell types (platelets, erythrocytes and endothelial cells) immediately after the test followed by a rapid MP clearance from the circulation during the next hour in response to cardiac stress. Those authors have suggested that the release of MP is a protective mechanism to clear cell stress in those patients.

Sarlon-Bartoli et al.3333 Sarlon-Bartoli G, Bennis Y, Lacroix R, Piercecchi-Marti MD, Bartoli MA, Arnaud L, et al. Plasmatic level of leukocyte-derived microparticles is associated with unstable plaque in asymptomatic patients with high-grade carotid stenosis. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013;62(16):1436-41. have measured the plasma levels of leukocyte-derived MP (LMP) in 42 individuals with carotid artery stenosis greater than 70%. They have shown that patients with unstable plaque had increased levels of the CD11bCD66b+ and CD15+ LMP, suggesting that even less frequently found subpopulations of MP in plasma, as compared to PMP, can provide important information regarding clinical studies on atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability in patients with high-grade carotid stenosis.

Morel et al.3434 Morel O, Pereira B, Averous G, Faure A, Jesel L, Germain P, et al. Increased levels of procoagulant tissue factor-bearing microparticles within the occluded coronary artery of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: role of endothelial damage and leukocyte activation. Atherosclerosis. 2009;204(2):636-41. have assessed the levels of LMP and EMP within occluded coronary arteries of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients treated with primary angioplasty and have compared them with the levels of MP in peripheral blood. Those authors have reported an increase in MP within arteries, indicating the importance of those vesicles in the development of coronary atherothrombosis.

Faille et al.3535 Faille D, Frere C, Cuisset T, Quilici J, Moro PJ, Morange PE, et al. CD11b+ leukocite microparticles are associated with high-risk angiographic lesions and recurrent cardiovascular events in acute coronary syndromes. J Thromb Haemost. 2011;9(9):1870-3. have measured CD11b+ MP (monocyte marker) in patients with acute coronary syndrome with no ST-segment elevation on the electrocardiogram, aiming at assessing whether the quantification of those MP could contribute to the identification of patients at higher risk for a recurring cardiovascular event within one month after coronary stent implantation. A smaller amount of CD11b+ MP was found in individuals with recurring cardiovascular event as compared to that in patients with no complications, suggesting greater capture of those MP in sites of atherosclerotic lesions.

Jeanneteau et al.3636 Jeanneteau J, Hilbert P, Martinez MC, Tual-Chalot S, Tamareille S, Furber A, et al. Microparticle release in remote ischemic conditioning mechanism. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2012;303(7):H871-7. have assessed in rats and humans the role of MP in the mechanism of remote ischemic conditioning (RIC), which has been described as an infarction-related cardioprotective strategy. No differences were found in the total number of MP in the group of animals undergoing RIC as compared to the control group. After phenotypic characterization of MP, elevations in the endothelial and Annexin V+ (apoptotic) subpopulations were observed in the RIC group. Similarly, elevations in EMP and Annexin V+ MP were found in the group of individuals submitted to RIC.

Porto et al.3737 Porto I, Biasucci LM, de Maria GL, Leone AM, Niccoli G, Burzotta F, et al. Intracoronary microparticles and microvascular obstruction in patiens with ST elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous intervention. Eur Heart J. 2012;33(23):2928-38. have assessed the concentrations of MP in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention, and the relationship of those vesicles with microvascular obstruction (defined by multiple angiography and electrocardiography). The main finding was that the MP subpopulations assessed (PMP and EMP) showed higher levels within the coronary arteries as compared to those in aortic blood. In addition, a greater release of both MP subpopulations was observed in the impaired coronary artery than in ascending aorta, indicating local MP production. Those authors have suggested that their findings can support the hypothesis that MP act as active elements in the embolization and pathophysiology of microvascular obstruction.

Kaabi et al.3838 Kaabi AA, Traupe T, Stutz M, Buchs N, Heller M. Cause or effect of atherogenesis: compositional alterations of microparticles from CAD patients undergoing external counterpulsation therapy. Plos One. 2012;7(10):e46822. have assessed the relationship between the levels of MP and treatment of stable coronary artery disease patients with external counterpulsation (ECP). That therapy has been considered effective and safe for patients with refractory angina pectoris. Those authors have found an increase in PMP after ECP therapy, and no difference in EMP and MPM levels.

Willians et al.1111 Williams MS, Rogers HL, Wang NY, Ziegelstein RC. Do platelet-derived microparticles play a role in depression, inflammation, and acute coronary syndrome? Psychosomatics. 2014;55(3):252-60. have assessed platelet activation and depression levels in coronary artery disease patients, because depression, even mild, is an independent predictor of increased mortality after myocardial infarction. Those authors have reported that patients with moderate depression and high levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and PCR also released more PMP, indicating that a pro-inflammatory component could change platelet function in those patients.

Bernal-Mizrachi et al.3939 Bernal-Mizrachi L, Jy W, Jimenez JJ, Pastor J, Mauro LM, Horstman LL, et al. High levels of circulating endothelial microparticles in patients with acute coronary syndromes. Am Heart J. 2003;145(6):962-70. have shown that, depending on the cell stimulus (activation or apoptosis), different surface proteins are expressed. Those authors have conducted a study analyzing two subpopulations of EMP (CD31+/CD42- and CD51+) in coronary artery disease patients and have reported that CD31+/CD42- EMP were more frequently expressed in acute events (myocardial infarction and unstable angina), and CD51+ EMP were released in similar amounts both in acute and chronic events (stable angina).

Microparticles and diabetes mellitus

Some studies have shown higher concentrations of PMP related to diabetes mellitus. Ogata et al.4040 Ogata N, Imaizumi M, Nomura S, Shozu A, Arichi M, Matsuoka M, et al. Increased levels of platelet-derived microparticles in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Diab Res Clin Pract. 2005;68(3):193-201. have assessed the levels of PMP in 92 patients with diabetic retinopathy. Those authors have reported increased release of PMP in those patients as compared to that in healthy individuals, and the increase was higher the more severe the retinopathy. In atherothrombosis, MP are related to the release of cytokines by leukocytes and endothelial cells, monocyte recruitment to the atherosclerotic plaque, smooth muscle cell proliferation, angiogenesis and increased oxidative stress. In addition, MP can be signalers of cell homeostasis, promoting balance between cell stimulus, proliferation and apoptosis1212 Mezouar S, Mege D, Darbousset R, Farge D, Debourdeau P, Dignat-George F, et al. Involvement of platelet-derived microparticles in tumor progression and thrombosis. Semin Oncol. 2014;41(3):346-58..

Lumsden et al.4141 Lumsden NG, Andrews KL, Bobadilla M, Moore XL, Sampson AK, Shaw JA, et al. Endothelial dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes post acute coronary syndrome. Diab Vasc Dis Res. 2013;10(4):368-74. have assessed patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus after acute coronary syndrome (six months prior to event), who had reduced levels of EMP and no PMP changes. Those authors have suggested that those unexpected findings, which disagree with most studies in the literature, can result from concomitant medications used by patients4242 Tramontano AF, Lyubarova R, Tsiakos J, Palaia T, Deleon JR, Ragolia L. Circulating endothelial microparticles in diabetes mellitus. Mediators Inflamm. 2010;2010:250476.

43 Koga H, Sugiyama S, Kugiyama K, Watanabe K, Fukushima H, Tanaka T, et al. Elevated levels of VE-cadherin-positive endothelial microparticles in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2005;45(10):1622-30.
-4444 Feng B, Chen Y, Luo Y, Chen M, Li X, Ni Y. Circulating level of microparticles and their correlation with arterial elasticity and endothelium-dependent dilation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Atherosclerosis. 2010;208(1):264-9..

Other studies have reported that the increase in the expression of adhesion molecules is associated with the activation of monocytes, which can bind to endothelial cells in vessel walls, leading to diabetic retinopathy progression. Those data suggest that measuring the levels of MPM can be a useful biomarker of diabetic retinopathy progression4545 Ogata N, Nomura S, Shouzu A, Imaizumi M, Arichi M, Matsumura M. Elevation of monocyte-derived microparticles in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2006;73(3):241-8..

Microparticles in endothelial dysfunction and dyslipidemia

Leroyer et al.4646 Leroyer AS, Rautou PE, Silvestre JS, Castier Y, Leseche G, Devue C, et al. CD40 ligand- microparticles from human atherosclerotic plaques stimulate endothelial proliferation and angiogenesis a potential mechanism for intraplaque neovascularization. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2008;52(16):1302-11. have shown that MP originated from macrophages (CD40+) can promote angiogenesis within the plaque, suggesting that these MP can determine plaque vulnerability. However, studies assessing the relationship between MP and angiogenesis have proved contraversial and inconclusive, because some MP have been reported to be other studies have reported that MP can both stimulate and able to stimulate angiogenesis (PMP, for example)1313 Kim HK, Song KS, Chung JH, Lee KR, Lee SN. Platelet microparticles induce angiogenesis in vitro. Br J Haematol. 2004;124(3):376-84.,4747 Brill A, Elinav H, Varon D. Differential role of platelet granular mediators in angiogenesis. Cardiovasc Res. 2004;63(2):226-35., while inhibit angiogenesis, depending on cell origin4848 Mostefai HA, Agouni A, Carusio N, Mastronardi ML, Heymes C, Henrion D, et al. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and xanthine oxidase regulate nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species productions by apoptotic lymphocyte microparticles in endothelial cells. J Immunol. 2008;180(7):5028-35.

49 Agouni A, Mostefai HA, Porro C, Carusio N, Favre J, Richard V, et al. Sonic hedgehog carried by microparticles corrects endothelial injury through nitric oxide release. FASEB J. 2007;21(11):2735-41.
-5050 Yang C, Mwaikambo BR, Zhu T, Gagnon C, Lafleur J, Seshadri S, et al. Lymphocytic microparticles inhibit angiogenesis by stimulating oxidative stress and negatively regulating VEGFinduced pathways. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2008;294(2):R467-76..

Some studies have shown that individuals with metabolic syndrome have increased levels of MP as compared to those of healthy individuals, and that MP are related to endothelial dysfunction, due to decreased eNOS expression and increased release of reactive oxygen species5151 Martinez MC, Tesse A, Zobairi F, Andriantsitohaina R. Shed membrane microparticles from circulating and vascular cells in regulating vascular function. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2005;288(3):H1004-9..

The first study to show the direct effect of MP on vascular function has been developed by Boulanger et al.5252 Boulanger CM, Scoazec A, Ebrahimian T, Henry P, Mathieu E, Tedgui A, et al. Circulating microparticles from patients with myocardial infarction cause endothelial dysfunction. Circulation. 2001;104(22):2649-52. Those authors have assessed whether the MP present in peripheral blood of patients with non-ischemic syndrome and after acute myocardial infarction would influence the endothelium-dependent response in aortic rings of rats. The MP of post-infarction individuals have been reported to reduce acetylcholine‑induced vascular relaxation (by influencing the nitric oxide pathway), suggesting that MP could contribute to the endothelial dysfunction observed after the acute event.

Diehl et al.5353 Diehl P, Aleker M, Helbing T, Sossong V, Germann M, Sorichter S, et al. Increased platelet, leukocyte and endothelial microparticles predict enhanced coagulation and vascular inflammation in pulmonary hypertension. J Thromb Thrombolysis. 2011;31(2):173-9. have analyzed different subpopulations of MP in individuals with pulmonary hypertension, and have reported increased levels of LMP, EMP and PMP, indicating higher inflammatory and procoagulant activity, which can be related to thromboembolic complications and endothelial dysfunction in those patients.

The improvement in endothelial function promoted by calcium channel blockers has been well described in the literature. Nomura et al.5454 Nomura S, Inami N, Kimura Y, Omoto S, Shouzu A, Nishikawa M, et al. Effect of nifedipine on adiponectin in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Hum Hypertens. 2007;21(1):38-44. have shown a reduction in EMP in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus after treatment with the calcium channel blocker, nifedipine. Similar result has been reported by the same group5555 Nomura S, Shouzu A, Omoto S, Nishikawa M, Iwasaka T. Benidipine improves oxidized LDLdependent monocyte and endothelial dysfunction in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Hum Hypertens. 2005;19(7):551-7. with patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension after treatment with benidipine, belonging to the same drug class. The effect of the renin-angiotensin system blocker valsartan on the levels of MPM in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus has also been assessed by the same group5656 Nomura S, Shouzu A, Omoto S, Nishikawa M, Fukuhara S, Iwasaka T. Effect of valsartan on monocyte/endothelial cell activation markers and adiponectin in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Thromb Res. 2006;117(4):385-92., who has reported that the drug inhibited the release of MPM. Those results have suggested that the renin-angiotensin system blocker can contribute to the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Microparticles and lipid-lowering therapies

New strategies that can either inhibit MP functions or provide greater clearance have been searched. Several studies have assessd the effect of different lipid-lowering strategies on the amount of MP released by different cell types5757 Camargo LM, França CN, Izar MC, Bianco HT, Lins LS, Barbosa SP, et al. Effects of simvastatin/ezetimibe on microparticles, endothelial progenitor cells and platelet aggregation in subjects with coronary heart disease under antiplatelet therapy. Braz J Med Biol Res. 2014;47(5):432-7.,5858 Lins LC, França CN, Fonseca FA, Barbosa SP, Matos LN, Aguirre AC, et al. Effects of ezetimibe on endothelial progenitor cells and microparticles in high-risk patients. Cell Biochem Biophys. 2014;70(1):687-96..

Pinheiro et al.5959 Pinheiro LF, França CN, Izar MC, Barbosa SP, Bianco HT, Kasmas SH, et al. Pharmacokinetic interactions between clopidogrel and rosuvastatin: effects on vascular protection in subjects with coronary heart disease. Int J Cardiol. 2012;158(1):125-9. have assessed the effect of the antiplatelet drug clopidogrel in association or not with rosuvastatin (40 mg) on the levels of EMP and PMP in patients with stable coronary disease on statins for at least three months. Those authors have identified an increase in the levels of PMP after suspension of rosuvastatina and maintenance of only clopidogrel for four weeks and a tendency towards greater release of EMP in those patients. They have suggested that an increase in the apoptosis of platelets occurred, and that rosuvastatin might have a protective effect on the endothelium when associated with clopidogrel. In a similar study, França et al.6060 França CN, Pinheiro LF, Izar MC, Brunialti MK, Salomão R, Bianco HT, et al. Endothelial progenitor cell mobilization and platelet microparticle release are influenced by clopidogrel plasma levels in stable coronary artery disease. Circ J. 2012;76(3):729-36. have assessed the influence of atorvastatin (80 mg) in association or not with clopidogrel in patients with stable coronary disease. Those authors have suggested higher vascular stability promoted by atorvastatin after identifying an inverse relationship between the plasma concentration of atorvastatin and the levels of PMP.

Another study6161 Morel O, Jesel L, Hugel B, Douchet MP, Zupan M, Chauvin M, et al. Protective effects of vitamin C on endothelium damage and platelet activation during myocardial infarction in patients with sustained generation of circulating microparticles. J Thromb Haemost. 2003;1(1):171-7. has assessed the effect of the treatment with vitamin C for five days on the levels of MP in patients with diabetes, dyslipidemia, or at least two risk factors for post‑infarction cardiovascular disease. A reduction in the amount of EMP and PMP was observed, which has been associated with the reduction in oxidative stress caused by vitamin C.

Thus, the studies have shown that MP can be useful markers not only to assess cardiovascular disease, but also cancer1010 Toth B, Liebhardt S, Steinig K, Ditsch N, Rank A, Bauerfeind I, et al. Platelet-derived microparticles and coagulation activation in breast cancer patients. Thromb Haemost. 2008;100(4):663-9.,1717 Wang CC, Tseng CC, Hsiao CC, Chang HC, Chang LT, Fang WF, et al. Circulating endothelial-derived activated microparticle: a useful biomarker for predicting one-year mortality in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:173401., sepsis2222 Bretelle F, Sabatier F, Desprez D, Camoin L, Grunebaum L, Combes V, et al. Circulating microparticles: a marker of procoagulant state in normal pregnancy and pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia or intrauterine growth restriction. Thromb Haemost. 2003;89(3):486-92. and other illnesses. However, the MP levels considered physiological and pathological are still controversial. Although flow cytometry is considered a reference for the identification and phenotypic characterization of MP, the studies have used several methods (time of centrifugation and incubation with antibodies, different markers), which makes the comparison between publications in the literature difficult.

In conclusion, the search for new biomarkers that might be related to cardiovascular disease has increased the interest in MP derived from different cells, especially platelets. However, studies are still controversial, and further research on standardization of more sensitive techniques to obtain, characterize and quantify those vesicles is required, so that the findings can be applied to clinical practice.

  • Sources of Funding
    There were no external funding sources for this study.
  • Study Association
    This study is not associated with any thesis or dissertation work.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    27 Jan 2015
  • Date of issue
    Feb 2015

History

  • Received
    10 Sept 2014
  • Reviewed
    19 Sept 2014
  • Accepted
    21 Oct 2014
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