Systemic lupus erythematosus: disease activity may influence the release of endothelial microparticles?

• Published in: Blood coagulation & fibrinolysis Vol. 29; no. 2; p. 189
• Main Authors: Cicarini, Walter B, Ferreira, Karine S, Loures, Cristina M G, Consoli, Renato V, Neiva, Cláudia L S, Pádua, Paulo M, Nunes, Fernanda F C, Alves, Luan C V, Reis, Edna A, Toledo, Vicente P C P, Lwaleed, Bashir A, Carvalho, Maria G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.03.2018
• Subjects: Adult; Cell-Derived Microparticles - metabolism; Endothelial Cells - metabolism; Female; Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - blood; Middle Aged; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1473-5733
• DOI: 10.1097/MBC.0000000000000703

: To evaluate blood-borne endothelial microparticles (EMPs) in women with SLE and correlated these to disease activity as defined by the SLEDAI-2K score. The study takes cross-sectional design. A total of 90 age-matched women were recruited including: G1 (healthy volunteers, n = 30), G2 (women with SLE and low disease activity (SLEDAI-2K score ≤4; n = 30) and G3 (women with SLE and moderate/high disease activity (SLEDAI-2K score >4; n = 30). Blood was collected in 3.2% sodium citrate. Subsequently, the microparticles were purified by ultracentrifugation and labeled with anti-CD51/61 and anti-Annexin-V antibodies. Quantification and phenotyping were performed using flow cytometry. The number of EMPs was significantly higher in SLE patients compared with controls (P = 0.0178). When SLE patients were stratified according to disease activity, the number of EMPs was significantly increased in women with moderate-to-high disease activity compared with controls (P = 0.0074). We observed a correlation between the number of EMPs and age (r = -0.34; P = 0.0123) and between the number of EMPs and SLEDAI-2K score (r = 0.30; P = 0.04). Our results suggest that the SLE causes increased EMPs release, especially in patients with SLEDAI-2K score greater than 4. Although measurement of the EMPs could be useful in distinguishing patients with SLE from health controls, they have limited value in differentiating between SLE subtypes.