Endothelial microparticles correlate with endothelial dysfunction in obese women.
BACKGROUND
Cell-derived microparticles are supposed to be involved in atherogenesis.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate circulating microparticles in obese women and their relation with anthropometric measures and endothelial dysfunction.


METHODS
Forty-one obese [body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m(2)] women and 40 normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m(2)) age-matched women were studied. Flow cytometry was used to assess microparticles by quantification of circulating endothelial microparticles (EMP, CD31+/CD42b-) and platelet microparticles (PMP, CD31+/CD42b+) in peripheral blood; endothelium-dependent flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) was evaluated in the right brachial artery after reactive hyperemia.


RESULTS
Compared with lean women, obese women presented significantly higher numbers of EMP and PMP, and reduced FMD. BMI did not correlate with either EMP (r = 0.02, P = 0.9) or PMP (r = -0.07, P = 0.645), whereas waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) showed significant correlation with both microparticles (r = 0.699, P < 0.001; r = 0.373, P = 0.016, respectively). Both EMP and PMP counts positively correlated with impairment of FMD in obese women. Multivariate analysis correcting for age, anthropometric indices, lipid parameters, and PMP identified EMP as the only independent predictor for impaired endothelial-dependent vasodilation (P = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
EMP are elevated in obese women and independently involved in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction. WHR is the anthropometric measure more closely related to EMP and endothelial dysfunction.
Esposito
Katherine
K
Division of Metabolic Diseases, Policlinico Universitario, Piazza L. Miraglia 2, Naples, Italy.
Ciotola
Miryam
M
Schisano
Bruno
B
Gualdiero
Roberto
R
Sardelli
Luigi
L
Misso
Lucio
L
Giannetti
Giovanni
G
Giugliano
Dario
D
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D004727:Endothelium / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000494:pharmacology; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D005996:Nitroglycerin