P-selectin expression, but not GPIIb/IIIa activation, is enhanced in the inflammatory stage of Takayasu's arteritis.
BACKGROUND
Inflammation and thrombosis are closely related processes, but the association between disease activity and thrombogenicity in Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is poorly understood. To investigate the link between platelet activation and disease activity, flow cytometric analyses of platelet P-selectin and activated GPIIb/IIIa expression were performed in patients with TA.


RESULTS
Twenty-two patients with TA, classified into active (Group A, n = 9) and inactive (Group I, n = 13) according to blood-derived inflammatory markers, and 14 healthy age- and gender-matched controls (Group C) were studied. Compared with Group C, the mean fluorescence intensity of P-selectin in response to 0.1-10 micromol/L of ADP was significantly upregulated in Group A, but not in Group I. No differences in platelet GPIIb/IIIa expression in stimulated platelets were seen among the 3 groups. Standard platelet aggregation studies revealed that disease activity did not influence platelet aggregation by ADP.


CONCLUSIONS
P-selectin expression, but not activated GPIIb/IIIa, is enhanced in ADP-activated platelets from patients in the inflammatory stage of TA. P-selectin may play a significant role in the inflammatory and thrombotic responses associated with intractable TA, presumably by inducing platelet-leukocyte interactions.
Kasuya
Natsuko
N
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
Kishi
Yukio
Y
Isobe
Mitsuaki
M
Yoshida
Masayuki
M
Numano
Fujio
F
D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000032:analysis*; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000378:metabolism*; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology
D019007:P-Selectin; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate