title: Increased circulating platelet microparticles as a potential biomarker in asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endothelial (EMPs) and platelet microparticles (PMPs) have been studied as biomarkers in several inflammatory diseases and as central players in intercellular communication.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to assess microparticle levels in asthma. Circulating microparticles and inflammatory and angiogenic markers were assessed by clinical and laboratorial evaluation, flow cytometry, and immunoassays, in a group of 20 asthmatic and 15 nonasthmatic subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Circulating levels of PMPs (either CD31+/42b+ or CD31+/42b+/AnV+) were significantly increased in asthmatics (P = 0.021) even after adjustment for confounders. Apoptotic EMPs (CD31+/42b--/AnV+) were significantly increased before (P = 0.005) but not after adjustments (P = 0.117).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We propose that PMPs may be putative asthma biomarkers, playing a role in asthma pathophysiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry (U38-FCT), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. delfimd@med.up.pt
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taveira-Gomes
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sokhatska
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Palmares
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Negrão
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moreira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D055252:Cell-Derived Microparticles / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000276:immunology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: VEGF; apoptosis; asthma; endothelial and platelet microparticles; sICAM-1