Risk factor correlates of platelet and leukocyte markers assessed by flow cytometry in a population-based sample.
BACKGROUND
Platelet and leukocyte products are involved in atherothrombosis. However, the determinants of platelet and leukocyte markers assessed by flow cytometry have not been documented in a population-based sample.


RESULTS
We performed flow cytometry on blood from participants (n=1894) in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Carotid MRI Study. Cellular aggregates and multiple platelet and leukocyte markers, such as myeloperoxidase in granulocytes and toll-like receptor-4, CD14, and CD45 in monocytes, were quantified. Their cross-sectional associations with demographic and risk factors were assessed using multiple linear regression. Mean values of most cellular markers and aggregates were considerably higher in blacks than whites (p<0.01). There were some differences in cellular markers between men and women, but little association with age. LDL-cholesterol was associated positively with several markers (toll-like receptor-4 and myeloperoxidase in granulocytes and CD162 in lymphocytes). Cholesterol-lowering therapy tended to show opposite associations. Smokers had much higher granulocyte myeloperoxidase than nonsmokers. However, most other correlations between risk factors and cellular markers were nonsignificant.


CONCLUSIONS
Race/ethnicity, sex, and to a lesser degree LDL-cholesterol and cholesterol-lowering therapy, but few other risk factors, were correlated with markers of cellular activation in this population-based study.
Folsom
Aaron R
AR
Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454-1015, USA. folso001@umn.edu
Aleksic
Nena
N
Sanhueza
Antonio
A
Boerwinkle
Eric
E
D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000166:cytology*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000378:metabolism
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C084882:P-selectin ligand protein; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D009195:Peroxidase