title: Inflammation-sensitive proteins and erythrocyte aggregation in atherothrombosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To find the relative contribution of various inflammation-sensitive proteins including fibrinogen, immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM and IgA), ceruloplasmin and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) to the induction and/or maintenance of enhanced erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation in the peripheral blood of individuals with atherothrombotic risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The degree of erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation was determined by a simple slide test and image analysis. In addition, we measured various inflammation-sensitive protein levels including fibrinogen, ceruloplasmin, immunoglobulins and hs-CRP in a group of 234 individuals with atherothrombotic risk factors and healthy ones. Pearson partial correlations and multiple linear regression analysis were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fibrinogen was found to be the major protein contributing to the enhanced erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation, explaining 30% of the model. Fibrinogen and IgG together explained 32.4% of the model. Other inflammation-sensitive proteins did not reach statistical significance and were excluded from the model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among inflammation-sensitive proteins measured in our cohort, fibrinogen is the dominant contributor to erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation in the peripheral blood of individuals with atherothrombotic risk factors and healthy ones. These findings may pave the way for the development of therapeutic strategies directed at the attenuation of erythrocyte aggregability in individuals with atherothrombosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine D, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, 6 Weizman Street, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 64239, Israel.
authors.forename: Einor Ben
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Assayag
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bornstein
authors.forename: Itzhak
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shapira
authors.forename: Tamar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mardi
authors.forename: Yelena
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Goldin
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tolshinski
authors.forename: Yafa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Vered
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zakuth
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berliner
authors.forename: Dorit Samocha
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Bonet
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000502:physiology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000502:physiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000097:blood; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol; D002570:Ceruloplasmin