title: Tissue factor in patients with acute coronary syndromes: expression in platelets, leukocytes, and platelet-leukocyte aggregates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Activated platelets and circulating platelet-leukocyte aggregates (PLA) are significantly higher in patients with unstable angina than in those with stable angina (SA). Platelets from healthy subjects express TF on activation. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of TF in PLA, in platelets, and in monocytes of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients compared to SA patients and healthy subjects (Controls).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We enrolled 26 consecutive patients with ACS, 29 patients with SA, and 25 Controls. A significantly greater number of total and TF positive platelet-monocyte aggregates was found by flow cytometry in blood of ACS patients than in either SA patients (3-fold) or Controls (5-fold). ACS patients also had a significantly higher amount of TF-positive platelets than SA or Controls (>3-fold) and significantly higher thrombin generation capacity. TF mRNA expression in platelets was significantly higher in ACS patients than in SA or Controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In ACS patients the greater expression of TF in platelets and PLA strengthens the link between platelet activation, blood coagulation, and thrombus formation and may further contribute to the hypercoagulability associated with the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti, 9, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brambilla
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camera
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Colnago
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marenzi
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Metrio
authors.forename: Peter L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Giesen
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balduini
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Veglia
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gertow
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Biglioli
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tremoli
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000368:Aged; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000502:physiology; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000378:metabolism; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013917:Thrombin / Q000378:metabolism; D013925:Thromboplastin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D019007:P-Selectin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013925:Thromboplastin; D013917:Thrombin