Soluble P-selectin as a marker of in vivo platelet activation.
BACKGROUND
Platelets are the major source of circulating sP-selectin. Elevated levels of this protein have been found in many atherothrombotic disorders. Thus, we investigated whether sP-selectin dosage might reflect platelet function in patients with risk factors for or with established cardiovascular diseases and whether its levels can be modulated by aspirin therapy.


METHODS
Plasma sP-selectin levels and light transmission platelet aggregometry (LTA) were analyzed in 152 outpatients. The effects of a 6-month aspirin therapeutic course on sP-selectin levels and LTA in 51 consecutive patients have been also investigated.


RESULTS
Significant correlations were observed between sP-selectin and Mx% LTA in response to epinephrine (p=0.022) and arachidonic acid (p=0.006), or between sP-selectin and collagen lag-phase (p=0.016). Multiple regression analysis showed that the only predictors of sP-selectin levels were platelet number (p<0.001) and collagen-induced lag-phase (p<0.01). Aspirin-treated patients showed a significant reduction of sP-selectin levels by 13% (p=0.021) which significantly correlated with collagen-induced lag-phase (p=0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
sP-selectin dosage could be proposed as a reliable marker of platelet activation in patients with major atherosclerotic risk factors either in the absence of clinically overt disease, and might represent a valid tool to asses in vivo platelet behavior.
Ferroni
Patrizia
P
Laboratory of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Advanced Biotechnologies, IRCCS San Raffaele, Via della Pisana 235, 00163 Rome, Italy.
Martini
Francesca
F
Riondino
Silvia
S
La Farina
Francesca
F
Magnapera
Agesilao
A
Ciatti
Filippo
F
Guadagni
Fiorella
F
D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012995:Solubility; D013997:Time Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D019007:P-Selectin; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin