title: Circulating microparticles: challenges and perspectives of flow cytometric assessment.
abstract: Circulating blood microparticles are likely to play a significant role as messengers of biological information. Their accurate quantification and characterisation is challenging and needs to be carefully designed with preferable usage of fresh minimally-processed blood samples. Utilisation of flow cytometers specifically designed for analysis of small-size particles is likely to provide considerable methodological advantages and should be the preferable option. This viewpoint manuscript provides a critical summary of the key methodological aspects of microparticle analysis.
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shantsila
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montoro-García
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gallego
authors.affiliation: Prof. Gregory Y. H. Lip, University of Birmingham Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Birmingham B18 7QH, UK, Tel: +44 121 507 5080, Fax: +44 121 507 5907, E-mail: g.y.h.lip@bham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Gregory Y H
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Lip
mesh_terms: D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000378:metabolism; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods; D055252:Cell-Derived Microparticles / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010316:Particle Size
chemical_list: D017304:Annexin A5; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D000939:Epitopes
keywords: Microparticles; flow cytometry; microvesicles