title: High levels of circulating endothelial microparticles in patients with acute coronary syndromes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endothelial injury plays a critical role in coronary artery disease (CAD), but the assessment of this injury has been problematical. Recently, it has been shown in vitro that endothelial cells (ECs) release endothelial microparticles (EMPs) on activation or apoptosis and that an assay of EMPs can provide useful information on EC status in patients with thrombotic disorders. This study is aimed at assessing possible correlations between EMPs, which are markers of endothelial injury, and clinical subgroups of patients with CAD.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, case-controlled study was conducted on 84 patients with CAD and 42 control subjects to investigate EMP profiles. Included were 64 patients with acute coronary syndromes ([ACS], 38 with myocardial infarction [MI] and 26 with unstable angina [UA]) and 20 patients with stable angina (SA). EMPs in platelet-poor plasma were measured flow cytometrically with combinations of fluorescent antibodies (anti-CD31, -51, -42), allowing distinction of EMPs from platelet microparticles (PMPs). Clinical subgroups of patients were correlated with EMP and PMP levels in blood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two species of EMPs (CD31+ and CD51+) were evaluated. Both were significantly higher in patients with CAD than in control subjects. CD31+ EMP was higher in ACS than SA. Among patients with first MI, CD31+ EMP was higher in patients with MI than in patients with UA and was significantly higher than in patients with recurring MI. CD51+ EMP did not discriminate ACS from SA. A simultaneous assay of PMP showed correlation between EMPs and PMPs. However, PMPs did not discriminate patients with SA from control subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EMP assay appears promising for assessing EC injury in CAD.
authors.affiliation: Wallace H Coulter Platelet Laboratory, Division of Hematology, University of Miami, FL 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bernal-Mizrachi
authors.forename: Wenche
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jy
authors.forename: Joaquin J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Jimenez
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pastor
authors.forename: Lucia M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Mauro
authors.forename: Lawrence L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Horstman
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Marchena
authors.forename: Yeon S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Ahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D039564:Integrin alphaV / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D019038:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIb-IX Complex / Q000032:analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D039564:Integrin alphaV; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D019038:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIb-IX Complex