title: In vivo platelet activation and platelet hyperreactivity in abacavir-treated HIV-infected patients.
abstract: Abacavir (ABC) has been associated with ischaemic cardiovascular events in HIV-infected patients, but the pathogenic mechanisms are unknown. Aim of our study was to assess whether ABC induces in vivo platelet activation and ex vivo platelet hyper-reactivity. In a retrospective, case-control study, in vivo platelet activation markers were measured in 69 HIV-infected patients, before starting therapy and after 6-12 months of either ABC (n=35) or tenofovir (TDF) (n=34), and compared with those from 20 untreated HIV-infected patients. A subgroup of patients was restudied after 28-34 months for ex vivo platelet reactivity. In vivo platelet activation markers were assessed by ELISA or flow cytometry, ex vivo platelet reactivity by light transmission aggregometry (LTA) and PFA-100®. Thein vitro effects of the ABC metabolite, carbovir triphosphate, on aggregation and intra-platelet cGMP were also studied. sPLA2, sPsel and sGPV increased significantly 6-12 months after the beginning of ABC, but not of TDF or of no treatment. Ex vivo platelet function studies showed enhanced LTA, shorter PFA-100® C/ADP closure time and enhanced platelet expression of P-sel and CD40L in the ABC group. The intake of ABC blunted the increase of intraplatelet cGMP induced by nitric oxide (NO) and acutely enhanced collagen-induced aggregation. Preincubation of control platelets with carbovir triphosphate in vitro enhanced platelet aggregation and blunted NO-induced cGMP elevation. In conclusion, treatment with ABC enhances in vivo platelet activation and induces platelet hyperreactivity by blunting the inhibitory effects of NO on platelets. These effects may lead to an increase of ischaemic cardiovascular events.
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal and Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Perugia, Via E. dal Pozzo, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Falcinelli
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Francisci
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Belfiori
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petito
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guglielmini
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Malincarne
authors.forename: AnnaMaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mezzasoma
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sebastiano
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonora
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baldelli
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gresele
mesh_terms: D000225:Adenine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000097:blood; D003848:Deoxyguanine Nucleotides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D015224:Dideoxynucleosides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D063065:Organophosphonates / Q000009:adverse effects; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D054497:Phospholipases A2, Secretory / Q000097:blood; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000068698:Tenofovir; D000099227:Abacavir; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate
chemical_list: D000225:Adenine; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D003848:Deoxyguanine Nucleotides; D015224:Dideoxynucleosides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D063065:Organophosphonates; D019007:P-Selectin; D054497:Phospholipases A2, Secretory; D000068698:Tenofovir; D000099227:Abacavir; C066928:carbovir triphosphate; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate