title: PADGEM/GMP-140 expression on platelet membranes from homozygous beta thalassaemic patients.
abstract: Thromboembolic events, which are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, occur in beta-thalassaemia. We studied the expression of the platelet selectin PADGEM/GMP-140 on intact cells from thalassaemic patients, as a marker of in vivo platelet activation. The mean of positive cells (%) was 38.143 +/- 20.65 in the patients versus 5.048 +/- 1.8 in the controls, n = 21, P < 0.001. No correlation was found between GMP-140 expression and splenectomy, platelet counts, plasma ferritin and natural coagulation inhibitors. Instead an indirect correlation was found between GMP-140 expression and HDL-cholesterol. Moreover platelet activation was directly correlated with pre-beta lipoproteins. Our data indicate that thalassaemic patients present an in vivo platelet activation, which possibly depends on the dyslipidaemia, which is now regarded as a frequent feature of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Cellular Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Del Principe
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Menichelli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Giulio
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: De Matteis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cianciulli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Papa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000737:chemistry*; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D019007:P-Selectin; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000502:physiology*; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D019007:P-Selectin; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; D002784:Cholesterol