title: Microparticles as new markers of cardiovascular risk in diabetes and beyond.
abstract: The term microparticle (MP) identifies a heterogeneous population of vesicles playing a relevant role in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases, cancer and metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. MPs are released by virtually all cell types by shedding during cell growth, proliferation, activation, apoptosis or senescence processes. MPs, in particular platelet- and endothelial-derived MPs (PMPs and EMPs), are increased in a wide range of thrombotic disorders, with an interesting relationship between their levels and disease pathophysiology, activity or progression. EMP plasma levels have been associated with several cardiovascular diseases and risk factors. PMPs are also shown to be involved in the progressive formation of atherosclerotic plaque and development of arterial thrombosis, especially in diabetic patients. Indeed, diabetes is characterised by an increased procoagulant state and by a hyperreactive platelet phenotype, with enhanced adhesion, aggregation, and activation. Elevated MP levels, such as TF+ MPs, have been shown to be one of the procoagulant determinants in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Atherosclerotic plaque constitutes an opulent source of sequestered MPs, called "plaque" MPs. Otherwise, circulating MPs represent a TF reservoir, named "blood-borne" TF, challenging the dogma that TF is a constitutive protein expressed in minute amounts. "Blood-borne" TF is mainly harboured by PMPs, and it can be trapped within the developing thrombus. MP detection and enumeration by polychromatic flow cytometry (PFC) have opened interesting perspectives in clinical settings, particularly for the evaluation of MP numbers and phenotypes as independent marker of cardiovascular risk, disease and outcome in diabetic patients.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Santilli
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marchisio
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lanuti
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boccatonda
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miscia
authors.affiliation: Prof. Giovanni Davì, Center of Excellence on Aging, "G. D'Annunzio" University Foundation, Via Colle dell'Ara, 66013 Chieti, Italy, Tel.: +39 0871 541312, Fax: +39 0871 541261, E-mail: gdavi@unich.it.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Davì
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000473:pathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D055252:Cell-Derived Microparticles / Q000473:pathology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D058065:Diabetic Cardiomyopathies / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D013925:Thromboplastin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D013925:Thromboplastin
keywords: Microparticles; atherosclerosis; diabetes; platelet; tissue factor