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.
Laboratory of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Advanced Biotechnologies, IRCCS San Raffaele, Via della Pisana 235, 00163 Rome, Italy.
Patrizia
P
Ferroni
Francesca
F
Martini
Silvia
S
Riondino
Francesca
F
La Farina
Agesilao
A
Magnapera
Filippo
F
Ciatti
Fiorella
F
Guadagni
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