Journal of Hypertension: Open Access

Increased Circulating Apoptotic CD31+/CD42b- and Activated CD62E+ Endothelial Micro Particles in Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract

Shuai-Shuai Hu, Hong-Gang Zhang, Qiu-Ju Zhang and Rui-Juan Xiu

Objective: To examine the phenotypes of endothelial microparticles and platelet microparticles in order to identify a sensitive endothelial microparticle biomarker for monitoring endothelial dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease, and to examine the mechanisms underlying endothelial dysfunction.

Methods: Thirty-three coronary artery disease patients and 53 healthy subjects were recruited. The absolute numbers of endothelial microparticles and platelet microparticles were measured by flow cytometry, and the clinical characteristics of patients and healthy subjects were recorded. Spearman’s correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were performed to analyse the correlation between endothelial microparticles and platelet microparticles, and between microparticles and clinical data.

Results: There was a significant difference in the number of CD31+/CD42b- endothelial microparticles and CD62E+ endotheial microparticles between patients with coronary artery diease and healthy subjects (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Both endothelial apoptosis and activation play an important role in coronary artery disease, although endothelial apoptosis plays the major role. Endothelial microparticles may be used to monitor endothelial dyfunction in patients with coronary artery disease.