Circulating microparticles may influence early carotid artery remodeling.
OBJECTIVE
To test associations of circulating microparticles with large artery remodeling before atherosclerosis is detectable.


METHODS
In 232 untreated symptom-free individuals, we measured microparticles of various cellular origins (platelet, endothelial and leukocyte) by specific anti-GPIb (glycoprotein Ib), anti-cluster of differentiation (CD) 105 and anti-CD11a antibodies, and common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), internal and external diameters by ultrasound.


RESULTS
Except for CD105 microparticles with IMT to lumen ratio (IMT/D, P < 0.05), microparticles correlated with no carotid dimensions. Significant interactions existed between each microparticle type and IMT on internal and external diameters (GPIb, P < 0.01; CD105 and CD11a microparticles P < 0.001) consisting of lower trend in increased diameter with increasing IMT in individuals with high than in those with low microparticle level (according to the median) of each origin. As a result, individuals within the third IMT tertile had lower internal diameter in the presence of high than in the presence of low level of GPIb, CD105 or CD11a microparticles (P = 0.001, <0.05 or 0.01, respectively), and lower external diameter in the presence of high than in the presence of low level of GPIb and CD11a microparticles (P = 0.001 and 0.01). Also, individuals within third IMT tertile exhibited positive correlations of IMT with CD105 and CD11a microparticles (P < 0.05), negative correlations of internal diameter with GPIb (P < 0.05), CD105 (P < 0.05) and CD11a microparticles (P < 0.01) and of external diameter with GPIb and CD11a microparticles (P < 0.05), and positive correlations of IMT/D with CD105 and CD11a microparticles (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Increased levels of leukocyte and endothelial-derived microparticles are associated with carotid inward remodeling in individuals with the greatest IMT before atherosclerosis is detectable.
Chironi
Gilles N
GN
AP-HP, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Service de Cardiologie Préventive, Paris, France.
Simon
Alain
A
Boulanger
Chantal M
CM
Dignat-George
Françoise
F
Hugel
Bénédicte
B
Megnien
Jean-Louis
JL
Lefort
Muriel
M
Freyssinet
Jean-Marie
JM
Tedgui
Alain
A
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D040881:CD11a Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D055252:Cell-Derived Microparticles / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D000071063:Endoglin; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D019038:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIb-IX Complex; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
D015703:Antigens, CD; D040881:CD11a Antigen; C064206:ENG protein, human; D000071063:Endoglin; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019038:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIb-IX Complex; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C094990:adhesion receptor